Tyler Moldovan striving to be Phoenix police officer again year after near-fatal shooting

PHOENIX — The Phoenix police officer who nearly lost his life in a shooting a year ago is hoping to once again be an active member of the force.

“If the department will let me, I’m up to go back. That’s what I strive for,” Tyler Moldovan said. “The injury hasn’t changed my feelings for the job or career at all. I love it.”

Moldovan graduated from the police academy in March 2021 and had less than a year of experience when he was shot in the head several times by a suspect.

The incident occurred Dec. 14, 2021, while Moldovan was searching for the driver of one of several cars reportedly driving erratically near 15th Avenue and Camelback Road.

He was put on life support and wasn’t expected to survive but defied the odds and has made significant progress over the past year.

“I signed up for this knowing it could happen,” Moldovan said. “Because it did happen, the support from the department has been exponential. It’s more than I could have asked for.”

Moldovan, 22 years old at the time, returned home in June, six months after the incident.

Since then he’s been in therapy daily. He said it took him until March to understand the extent of his injuries.

Moldovan has been taking steps every day as well and has progressed to doing some light activities, such as unloading the dishwasher.

“So far, so good. No complaints,” Moldovan said. “Things are not as easy as they used to be but they’re doable. I take every day as it comes and see what happens.”

Moldovan’s recovery will continue as he progresses to his goal.

“It’s just mind-blowing to see that a year later that he’s here talking, breathing on his own…lots of things that weren’t supposed to happen have happened, so we’re grateful,” Chelsea Moldovan, Tyler’s wife, said.

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