Fundraiser started for Harbor Police officer recovering from medical emergency

The Port of San Diego is promoting a fundraiser supporting a Harbor Police officer recovering from a medical emergency caused by malformed blood vessels in his brain.

Officer Mitchell Collier, 42, remains in “intensive recovery” after suffering a seizure in September while at an arcade with his young sons, the port district said in a news release.

Collier, who has been with Harbor Police for seven years, spent more than 10 days in the ER and surgical intensive care unit.

Doctors eventually determined his seizure was caused by a brain arteriovenous malformation, a dangerous tangle of blood vessels that disrupts normal blood flow. He subsequently had five surgeries, including a resection procedure to remove the malformation. He is at home in the South Bay, attending therapy several days a week. His recovery is expected to take months, the port said.

“Due to impacts from surgery, Collier now faces a long and challenging recovery expected to take months,” the port said. His wife has taken indefinite leave from her job.

Port officials said anyone wanting to assist the officer with his financial burden can donate to the Peace Officers Research Association of California’s Fund A Hero initiative at porac.org/fundraiser/officer-collier/.