BELLEVUE, Wash. — A Bellevue Police Department officer returned to duty last week after a year-long recovery from a 2023 motorcycle crash.
Officer Kevin Bereta suffered life-threatening injuries on Aug. 15, 2023, when he lost control of his motorcycle and was ejected from the bike while on an Interstate 5 overpass in Seattle. Bereta fell approximately 50 feet from an on-ramp onto the southbound lanes of I-5.
The accident happened during Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to Seattle. Bereta was assigned to Harris' motorcade as part of the security detail during the visit.
Bereta ultimately underwent five surgeries and spent three weeks in intensive care at Harborview Medical Center for injuries to his back, leg and arm.
According to BPD, Bereta returned to work Aug. 30. He is doing "light-duty work" which includes assisting with background investigations for new hires and working with the BPD Wellness Program.
Health insurance issues during recovery
In an interview with KING 5 at the beginning of March, Bereta revealed he was kicked off his City of Bellevue health insurance plan. He exceeded the six months allowed to recover and had not been cleared medically to return to light duty at the time.
“I can’t play with my kids like I used to," Bereta told KING 5 on March 1. "I can lay on the floor and I’ll play cards with them and that’s about the extent of what I can do. I have to watch them play, and all I hear is, ‘Daddy, play with me,’ and that just kills me."
The Beretas and their three children told KING 5 that, at one point, they were paying out of pocket for insurance, amounting to several thousand dollars a month.
The City and the Bellevue Police Officers Guild announced a change in city policy later that month that allowed Bereta to maintain his existing health insurance benefits for up to two years. The city said the policy would reimburse insurance premiums and is available to "any city employee who experiences a workplace injury or illness resulting in a temporary disability that prevents them from working sufficient hours to maintain benefits," including Bereta.
Support from fellow officers
In a press release sent out Thursday, Bereta thanked his fellow officers for providing everything from meal deliveries to recovery accommodations to words of encouragement during his year-long recovery process.
“This year has been incredibly difficult for my family and me, but it would have been unmanageable without the love and support of my friends at the Bellevue Police Department. They have been there for me and my family without hesitation, and my family and I have overcome something I would not wish on anyone. No words can describe the feeling I have returning to the job and people that I love,” Bereta said in a press release.
Back in July, Bereta was also awarded the BPD Blue Star Medal Award, which is awarded to employees who died, were seriously injured, or were shot in the line of duty.
