Concert to help injured officer

Keith Paul

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2001 | 11:30 a.m.

Trooper Bobby Kintzel was once comatose in a hospital from life-threatening injuries, but he now plans to stand in front of his commander next month to accept his Medal of Valor.

Kintzel was putting a strip of spikes across U.S. 95 on April 21 to stop a fleeing motorist when he was struck by the sport utility vehicle going about 85 to 90 mph.

Since that day, many feared the worst for the Nevada Highway Patrol trooper. But in June he was out of danger and moved from University Medical Center to Health South Rehabilitation Hospital to continue his recovery, physically and mentally, from the fractured pelvis and skull and brain injury.

"He talks all the time about standing up and receiving the awards," Trooper Alan Davidson said.

Highway Patrol officials will award Kintzel the Medal of Valor, the department's highest commendation, and the Purple Heart during a benefit concert on Sept. 30 at the Orleans. The proceeds of the concert will be used to help pay for his rehabilitation.

"I believe he is going to be able to stand," said Juanita Kuhn, Kintzel's mother. Using supporting parallel bars, she said, "He stood six minutes on his own. I said to him 'Bobby you'll make it because you are determined,' and he said, 'I believe I will.' "

A Metro Police sergeant who never met Kintzel until a couple of weeks ago started organizing the concert nearly two months ago, lining up the showroom and performers.

"What's really nice is the support from the community," said Sgt. Randy Sutton, who organized the event. "I wanted to create an event that would live forever in his memory and his family's memory."

Rita Rudner, Bobby Rydell, Bob Anderson, Clint Holmes, Frankie Avalon and The Lettermen have committed to perform, Sutton said.

All of the entertainers are performing free, and the Orleans donated not only the showroom, but enough workers to staff the concert, Sutton said.

Rudner said when she was asked to perform at the benefit, she agreed to donate her time.

"It's a very small thing I can do, and if it helps, I'm happy to do it," said Rudner, a new Las Vegas resident who performs regularly at New York-New York. "So many people who try to do good things end up in a bad situation, and if you can help someone, you should."

Rudner also praised the other performers donating their talents for the show.

Rudner admits she's a little nervous about performing in front of a crowd that will likely be mostly police officers.

"Well at least no one will be unruly," she quipped. "I just hope no one gives me a ticket."

Kintzel has been working hard toward his goal of being able to stand on his own when he is given his awards during the concert.

When he was first hit, his family and friends were hoping he would recover, but were expecting the worst.

"We had a lot of touch-and-go moments that first month," Kuhn said. In case he didn't make it, she said, "We were making plans. He had a cousin come in from Pennsylvania who brought a black suit with him. We just didn't know. We hoped and prayed."

Kintzel was struck near the end of a 45-minute-long chase that went through Henderson, Boulder City and Las Vegas. Moments after Kintzel was run down, a Metro officer rammed the suspect's vehicle.

Vornelius Phillips, 25, faces attempted murder charges in connection with Kintzel's injuries. He also has been charged with murder after a prostitute was found slain. The killing occurred before the chase, but police didn't discover the body or the suspected link to Phillips until afterward. Phillips' next court date is Wednesday.

For Kintzel, a Valley High School graduate, the recovery has been a series of small steps. Doctors at first thought he would need two years to recover mentally. His neurosurgeon now says he is progressing so well, that prognosis is about a year, according to Kuhn.

Kintzel goes home on the weekends for 12 hours at a time, but he still faces several more surgeries.

"He keeps doing better and better," she said. "I'm hoping he'll be able to go back (to the highway patrol). They are keeping a spot for him. With all my heart I'm hoping he can go back, because it's been his dream since he was 12 years old (to be a police officer)."