Deputy Jessica VanBynen returns to duty four years after accident

Nearly four years after being struck by an oncoming vehicle during a traffic stop in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica VanBynen has returned to full patrol duty, making what department leaders have described as one of the most remarkable recoveries they have ever witnessed.

VanBynen was seriously injured in August 2022 when a passing vehicle sideswiped her while she was standing outside her patrol car speaking with a driver during a regular traffic stop. At the time, Eugene Rush, now a commander with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, was her direct supervisor.

“I was absolutely shocked,” Rush said. “The first thing I did was look at the body cam footage, and it was just horrific to see an officer suffer something like that while on duty.” 

The extent of VanBynen’s injuries led to years of surgeries and rehab that at times left her questioning whether she would ever wear a uniform again.

Following the crash, she endured more than 100 physical therapy appointments, multiple surgeries, blood clots and broken bones. 

There were eight or nine separate periods during recovery when she was unable to walk, often relying on crutches or family members to complete everyday tasks, she told The Echo. 

“I’ve always been a runner and very active,” VanBynen said. “Being stuck on the couch was definitely the hardest part.”

Initially, she believed each surgery would be the one that allowed her to return to work. As procedures continued, that optimism began to fade.

“After probably the third one, and especially after applying for social security and medical disability, I started to accept [that I was] never going back,” she said. “I was trying to come up with something else I could do.” 

VanBynen said one of the most difficult moments came when physicians documented what they believed would be permanent physical limitations.

“I had a doctor sign paperwork saying I could never drive a car again, couldn’t lift more than 10 pounds, and shouldn’t walk more than a block or two,” she said. “I was still in my 20s, and it felt like everything got put on hold really fast."

Despite these predictions, VanBynen continued rehab. The sheriff’s office rallied around her, and slowly but surely, VanBynen came back.

“The department just wrapped their arms around her,” Rush said. “Whether it was rides, meals, phone calls, text messages, or just being there for her. Everyone was very supportive.”

The sheriff’s office welcomed VanBynen back with a ceremony attended by coworkers and friends when she returned to duty this past month. 

"There's been a lot of retirements and new hires," she said. "It kind of feels like I'm starting all over again because there are so many new faces, and all they know about me is my injury."

As VanBynen continues to find footing back on duty, her colleagues are going to continue doing what they did during her absence: rally around her, and recognize how remarkable it is to have VanBynen back at work. Rush, who has spent more than two decades with the sheriff's office and more than four decades in law enforcement, said he has never witnessed another recovery like VanBynen's.

"I haven't seen anything like this," he said. "This is the most incredible and amazing comeback I've seen for a law enforcement officer with that type of injury to return to full duty."