Andres Salazar says Officer Robert Hyson’s first health scare began when he couldn’t feel his left hand while playing video games or typing on a computer.

SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio police officer’s path to recovery is being amplified by the support of his colleagues and community who are raising awareness after he suffered a stroke and heart attack in recent months. 

Officer Robert Hyson is approaching 25 years with the San Antonio Police Department this November. Colleagues describe the 59-year-old law enforcement officer as a loving husband, father, Air Force veteran and devoted public servant.  



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“He’s a great family man, he respects others. He loves the community, he loves working for the community,” said Officer Andres Salazar. 

Salazar has worked alongside Hyson for more than 15 years and considers him not just a colleague but a friend as well. 

“He’s just one of those officers that you can go to for really anything you need, advice, and knows how to do his job and how to do it well,” Salazar said. “You go from sharing life, sharing stories every day to not being able to talk to him, not being able to have a conversation.”

Salazar said Hyson’s health crisis began in February when he experienced numbness in his left hand while at home playing video games. Hyson called his colleagues and wife about the sudden situation.

“He called us and he’s like, ‘hey, what do I do? This is weird,’” Salazar said. “So, he went and he tried typing on a computer and that was alien to him is what he said.” 

After being taken to the hospital, health officials determined he was having a stroke. 

“They rushed him to the emergency room and found out he was having a stroke,” Salazar said. “While at the hospital, he suffered a major stroke. They said that he was lucky he was there because if it happened anywhere else, he probably not have not made it.”

As Hyson has worked through rehabilitation, friends and fellow officers have continued comforting him through his fight to bounce back. 

Officer Patrick Chavez recalled spending time with Hyson with buddies at a barbecue.

“He sat next to me and even though he couldn’t maybe verbalize what he was saying due to the stroke, we were still kind of taking jabs at each other, laughing and joking around,” Chavez said.

Hyson also survived a heart attack during his recovery.

Chavez and Salazar started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Hyson’s family as they deal with medical bills, hospital expenses and costs linked to rehabilitation. As of July 12, just over $14,000 of the $16,000 goal has been donated. 

“It was nice to see just the camaraderie between the different units coming together to show support for a fellow officer,” Chavez said.

For Salazar, the hope is simple.

“We’re hoping for a miracle,” Salazar said. “We’re hoping to have our brother back.”

To learn more about Officer Robert Hyson’s journey, click here.