A Milwaukee Police Officer's family spoke out Wednesday after their loved one was seriously hurt in a hit and run crash last week.
This is not the first time Officer Alberto Figueroa has been rushed to the hospital after getting hit on the job. His family said he had just recovered from another injury when the crash happen.
Surveillance video on Monday night shows the moments Figueroa was hit by a speeding car during a traffic stop. The officer ended up in the road not breathing. The people he had pulled over jumped out and give him CPR. A few minutes later his girlfriend, Emily Lenz who is seven months pregnant with their third child, learned what happened.
"They just told me that he had been hit by a car. That they didn't know what was going on," said Lenz. "It was heartbreaking because you never know what is going on."
Figueroa was seriously hurt. At one point, he was pinned between the vehicles. Lenz said he has multiple broken bones and internal injuries.
His friend and principal at St. Thomas More High School Nicholas Kelly said they were praying for their former student after they heard the news.
"He has a long road of recovery ahead of him," said Kelly.
This is not the first time Figueroa has been hit by a car on the job. He was also hit two years ago while working Summerfest as a motorcycle officer. Lenz said his leg was badly broken and his had only recently recovered from that injury. But despite two close calls no one can see him giving up on being a cop.
"He is the epitome of what we would expect a police officer to be. He is the type of person who would go over and beyond to put himself in danger to make sure other people are safe," said Kelly.
"Since I have known him, he has always wanted to be a motorcycle officer and he got the chance and I don't think he is ready to give up," said Lenz.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Figueroa's family with his medical bill.
Milwaukee Police are still searching for the driver who hit Figueroa.
