Cop has leg amputated after fire-truck accident at parade celebrating Denver Nuggets' NBA championship

A longtime cop who suffered a serious leg injury during the parade to celebrate the Denver Nuggets' NBA championship last month has unfortunately had to have part of his leg amputated.

On June 15, 750,000 basketball fans flooded the streets of Denver to mark the Nuggets' first championship in the team's 47-year history. Everyone seemed to be having a good time at the celebratory parade until some of its final moments. At around 11:30 a.m. that morning, a fire truck carrying several star players — including the 2023 NBA Finals MVP, Nikola Jokic — rounded a corner at the intersection of Cherokee and 13th Street.

As the truck turned, a swarm of enthusiastic parade-goers began surrounding the truck, perhaps threatening the safety of the players and others. SWAT Sgt. Justin Dodge and other members of law enforcement were on hand that day to keep the crowds under control. While Dodge was trying to protect the fire truck and its occupants from the encroaching fans, the truck began inching forward, suddenly trapping Dodge's leg underneath one of its tires and "causing a very significant lower leg injury," Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said later that day.

"The truck isn’t even going a mile an hour. I mean, it’s creeping barely," recalled news videographer Brian Willie, who witnessed the accident. "I just heard a guy yell, and I look and I see him going down to the ground and another SWAT officer starts banging on the truck."

Dodge underwent three surgeries to repair the leg and returned home, but the threat of an amputation always remained a possibility. At a follow-up appointment, Dodge received the news that the possibility would, indeed, become reality, and he would have to lose part of his leg. He endured a fourth surgery on July 7, when doctors removed his leg below the knee and then performed a skin graft. By Monday, the dedicated public servant — who has worked in law enforcement for 20 years and who is believed to have served at least one tour in either Iraq or Afghanistan — had recovered well enough to go home.

Though the loss of a limb might devastate most people, Colorado State Patrol Maj. Brandon Means, Dodge's colleague and friend, claimed that Dodge "has not complained one time about this." Instead, the wounded warrior wants to use his injury as a way to help others. "He is just talking about moving forward and using this as a way to spread positivity to others who may go through something similar, a hardship, and to bring community together," Means said.

Means also said that Dodge is already itching to return to the job he loves. "He has absolutely no doubt that he’s going to be back on the job, back doing his regular duties, and he’s going to get there," Means insisted.

And at least according to Means, his fellow officers can't wait to have Dodge back. "We’re so close and everybody respects this guy," Means said. "We love this guy."

The family has established a website, sgtjustindodge.com, to share Dodge's story and to raise money for his medical and rehabilitation expenses. "We cannot express how full our hearts are with the love, support, prayers and concern that has been shown to our family," said a message at the website.

"Despite how trying the last several weeks have been, it is only when we think about this outpouring of concern that we have been overtaken and overwhelmed with emotion and gratefulness. While a thank you is not sufficient to repay your kindness, thank you, nonetheless," the message added.

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