San Angelo Police Sergeant Goes Home After Suffering Stroke While Battling Covid-19

SAN ANGELO – After spending more than a month recovering from Covid-19 and a stroke, San Angelo Police Department Sergeant John Chappa returned home Tuesday.

Sergeant Chappa was an active 45-year-old who ran several miles every day when he contracted the coronavirus in late July. Chappa was at the hospital being treated for Covid-19 for a week when he suffered a stroke that left the left side of his body immobile.

After spending weeks at the hospital recuperating, Chappa was transferred to Shannon Rehabilitation Hospital on August 16th. The hospital is an affiliate of Encompass Health.

For the past month, Sergeant Chappa has undergone three hours of physical therapy five days a week. The exercise helped him walk again and regain his function to complete daily tasks.

"Chappa has worked extremely hard and has been an inspiration to his therapy team while in rehabilitation – both from his own work ethic and motivation and the support they’ve seen from the local police force," said Encompass Health in a statement. "He continues to work toward his goal of running again in the future."

On Tuesday, SAPD officers and community members cheered on Sergeant Chappa as he was discharged from the rehab facility. 

The San Angelo Police Department shared the following video on social media as Sgt. Chappa exited the hospital.