Constable Jaan Montgomery

The day started off like any other.

It was January 1, 2019 - a cold wintery day that welcomed a fresh start to a New Year.

Constable Jaan Montgomery reported for duty as a Waterloo Regional Police Officer and was sent to guard a suspect who was a patient at Grand River Hospital. He was seated outside the hospital room, sipping on a hot coffee a colleague had brought to him.

That’s the last thing he remembers.

He woke up on the floor, confused, groggy, scared. He tried to push himself up, but couldn’t move.

What Constable Montgomery didn’t know at that time, was that he had suffered a stroke. He was rushed to Hamilton General Hospital where doctors immediately worked to remove a blood clot from his brain.

He was later told that his heart function was at 12 per cent.

He was told he may lose 70 per cent functional ability in his right side.

He was also told he would likely never work as a police officer again.

“I am not going to quit,” he remembers telling himself.

“The next day, I made myself hold a fork in my right hand. I didn’t do it well, but I still did it.”

Eventually, with the help of many doctors and specialists, he was able to walk unattended to the bathroom. He was able to shower. Soon, he was able to speak in full sentences.

In August of that same year, he returned to work.

“I’m where I am today because of the quick actions of the medical staff at Grand River Hospital and Hamilton General Hospital,” he says. “But, also, because of the members of WRPS who helped me through it all.”

Constable Montgomery now works to help raise awareness on recognizing the signs of a stroke and knowing what to do in such an emergency.

“I think the biggest take away from all of this is that heart and stroke affects all people – young and old,” he says. “Learning the earliest signs and being proactive is so important.”

About Constable Jaan Montgomery

Constable Montgomery was raised in Waterloo Region in an Estonian/Canadian home.

He attended Waterloo Collegiate Institute where he played football, volleyball, and basketball. Standing at six feet, 11 inches tall, he excelled at basketball and went on to receive a full scholarship at Binghamton University in New York State. He helped the team win its first American East Men’s Basketball Championship. He later joined a professional baseball team in Europe, playing one season in Denmark and one in Estonia.

He then returned to Canada and, in 2016, joined the Waterloo Regional Police Service.

“For me, being a police officer is about the sense of accomplishment and pride in helping others,” he says.