Downtown DeLand beat cop needs a pacemaker

BEACON FILE PHOTO
DeLand Police Cmdr. Francis “Mac” McBride

Benefit fund opened at MainStreet Community Bank

By Jen Horton
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Aug 7, 2009 - 2:08:05pm

DeLand Police Officer Francis "Mac" McBride will be in the hospital a little longer than he planned.

McBride came through stent-implant surgery successfully Aug. 6, but doctors determined the veteran cop also needs a pacemaker.

A family friend, Anita Rash, has opened a bank account so the community can donate funds to help McBride with the unexpected additional bills and loss of work.

Rash owns Anita's Furniture & Home Decor in Downtown DeLand, in the business district where McBride is beloved as the beat cop who helps keep things peaceful.

Daughter Tanya McBride Chitwood said the stent surgery was a success.

"It went great; he feels good," she said.

The problem is McBride's heart is weak, and needs some help. Chitwood said doctors will be putting a defibrillator in her father. Wires will run from the defibrillator to McBride's heart. A pacemaker built into the defibrillator will help keep his heart beating strong.

Chitwood said her dad should be home a day or two after surgery.

Speaking Friday from his room in the intensive-care unit of Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, McBride confirmed he will be off the beat for a little longer than he expected.

"I've got to have a pacemaker," McBride said.

The pacemaker surgery was scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8.

McBride, a champion weightlifter, said he will have restricted arm movements because of the way the pacemaker is wired.

"They'll be hooking wires to my heart, and if I sling my arm back, I could yank those wires out," McBride said.

A part-time employee of the Police Department, McBride doesn't have the full slate of city benefits. DeLand Human Resource Director Mark Hayward said McBride has medical insurance through the city, but pays the entire premium because of his part-time status.

"He's pushing 35 years with us," Hayward said.

So, much of his medical expenses will be covered. The bad news is, as a part-time employee, McBride has no vacation-time, sick-leave or compensatory-time benefits with the city.

"That leaves him with just his tiny little Social Security check," Rash said.

She opened a benefit fund with Mainstreet Community Bank. Donations for McBride can be made to the Francis O. McBride Fund at any Mainstreet branch.

Rash is also working to get collection jars placed in Downtown DeLand businesses, to help with the fundraising efforts.

McBride said he had felt short of breath July 31, and drove himself to the hospital. After some tests, doctors told him there was a blockage in one of his arteries of 95 percent to 99 percent.

McBride walks the beat regularly in Downtown, where he knows everyone and everyone knows him. With the blood flow reduced to his heart, McBride said he had been slowing down a little.

"I thought that was just age," he said.

In addition to his police work, McBride is an avid weightlifter. The doctor told him his excellent physical condition will help speed his recovery. McBride will have to change his lifestyle a little, and go on a reduced-sodium diet.

"Mac is a valued part of our city team," City Manager Michael Pleus said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

"We are eagerly awaiting his return," said DeLand Police Chief Ed Overman, who called McBride "a good officer who is missed."

McBride misses the folks Downtown, and thanked everyone for their concern and well wishes.

"I've really been blessed. When you're in a position long enough, you really get to know people," he said. "The people Downtown, they're my second family."

— jen@beacononlinenews.com

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