San Francisco cop who was ADA expert retires

From The City Insider in San Francisco:

Sgt. Michael J. Sullivan, a patrol cop who transformed himself into a renowned expert on the Americans with Disabilities Act after being injured on duty, is hanging up his spurs May 1 after 32 years at the San Francisco Police Department.

Sullivan's leg and heart were seriously injured in January 1982 when a fleeing suspect's car landed on top of Sullivan's patrol cruiser in the Mission, pinning him inside, police said.

After he returned to duty a year-and-a-half later, walking with a cane, Sullivan often had to remind people that he still had full use of his brain, police officials said. When Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, Sullivan became the department's point person on the topic, learning how the ADA related to law enforcement and then implementing those changes.

He ensured people with disabilities had access to police services at local stations, the Hall of Justice and over the phone. He trained officers on how to better interact with people with mental illness. He arranged for interpreters for the deaf to be on call around the clock and for special vans to be available to transfer those with limited mobility.

Sullivan, 54, also helped mediate disputes between merchants and customers regarding the ADA, trained officers on how to enforce the intricacies of access laws and tried to educate Muni drivers and others working with the public.

Sullivan's work was honored by multiple mayors, the Board of Supervisors, the state legislature and the U.S. Congress.

In 2005, Mayor Gavin Newsom presented him with a community leadership award for making San Francisco more accessible. Sullivan received the award on crutches -- recovering from his 10th surgery stemming from his original injuries.