Brain tumor forces Greenwood officer into early retirement

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) — A Greenwood police officer has had to give up the job he loves while battling a rare form of brain cancer.

Sgt. James Bryan Long has been with the department for 19 years. He had hoped to make it to 20 years, but cancer forced him into early retirement.

Long has glioblastoma. It’s the same type of cancer that Sen. John McCain died of last summer at the age of 81. Long is just 49 years old. Because of frequent seizures, he’s not able to drive or carry a gun, so he’s retired early from Greenwood Police Department. 

However, Long said he only has fond memories of his career.

The year was 1999. James Bryan Long was sworn in as Greenwood Police Department’s newest officer. 

“I was excited. I was really happy. It took me 8 years of trying,” he said. 

Over the next 19 years, he wore many hats: from accident investigator to crime scene investigator to detective. In 2016, he was promoted to sergeant. Long has the awards to prove it. He was named Officer of the Year twice, Supervisor of the Year once, and he received a Life Saving award for saving the life of a young woman who overdosed on heroin and Xanax. 

“I was able to give her CPR and I truly thought whatever happened, she wasn’t going to make it. But she did,” recalled Long. 

Long called it the highlight of his career. But what happened in June of 2018 was a low point: He suffered a seizure. 

“I just thought it was a mind crazy and the next time it happened, several times, the next day when I was at work,” said Sgt. Long. 

Colleagues encouraged him to get medical help. He did and learned he had glioblastoma. Long has had to undergo numerous treatments including radiation and chemo. Even after experiencing an ultimate low that stripped him of his career, Long said he remains grateful.

“I’m just thankful that I got what I got and doing what I was doing. I enjoyed it a lot,” Long said.

Long was initially given just 14 months to live. But after treatment, his tumor has shrunk significantly, so he is optimistic.