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Tampa police officer critically injured in Cozumel crash

Tampa Police Department

Officer Andrea Law receives her badge from Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio during her swearing-in ceremony in May 2007.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 19, 2009

Updated: 11/19/2009 07:30 pm

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Officer Andrea Law

TAMPA - Family, friends and colleagues are keeping vigil over a Tampa police officer critically injured in a wreck while on vacation in Cozumel, Mexico.

Andrea Law, 36, was flown to Tampa International Airport on Thursday and taken to Tampa General Hospital, where she is in intensive care.

Law has been a school resource officer at Stewart Middle School since last month. Prior to that, she worked in patrol.

Police Chief Jane Castor said Law is in a medically induced coma. Her injuries include a lacerated liver.

"It's just a matter of time to see if she recovers from those injuries," Castor said, adding that doctors reported that Law regained consciousness coming out of surgery.

"Police officers are fighters and we knew then she was part of this fight and we knew she'd do all she can to recover," Castor said.

Law's family flew in from Ohio, and Castor and Mayor Pam Iorio went to TGH.

Law was one of five Carnival Legend cruise passengers injured in the crash Wednesday afternoon. A Sarasota County firefighter also was injured, although details weren't immediately available.

Law and another person were airlifted to medical facilities in the United States and the other three remain hospitalized in Cozumel, the cruise line said in a statement.

"The guests were not participating in a ship-sponsored shore excursion at the time but rather were riding in a jeep they had rented independently when it collided with another vehicle," according to the statement.

The Tampa-based ship sailed from Cozumel on Wednesday night to continue its itinerary.

Law joined the police department in 2007. In her last evaluation, she met or exceeded expectations in every category.

"Officer Law is a very hard working, conscientious officer who is known by her peers to carry her share of the workload, regardless of the types of calls," the evaluation states.

Law previously spent about two years as a St. Petersburg police officer.

"She's a very, very well respected officer," Castor said.

In her short time at Stewart Middle, Law has made a strong impression, Assistant Principal Alex Samaras said. She has helped teach classes on school and public safety, and is approachable to students and teachers.

Law also volunteers in the school's Ladies of Elegance program for at-risk female students and serves as a mentor.

"We are pulling for her," Samaras said. "Our entire school has been thinking about her all day.

"We are all in her corner and miss her and wish her a speedy recovery."

News Channel 8 reporter Samara Sodos and Tribune reporter José Patiño Girona contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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