Laid-off Cleveland police officer returns to duty after serving in Afghanistan

CLEVELAND - A laid-off Cleveland police officer is back on the job, but his return to the streets was delayed for months.

David Lam, who is a patrol officer in Cleveland's second district, is a First Lieutenant with the Ohio Army National Guard HHC I-148PH Infantry.

"Our unit helped train Afghan uniform police," Lam said.

Lam was laid-off from his job in May 2011. In December, he was recalled, but had orders to deploy to Afghanistan.  He returned home in late August.

"Definitely a happy moment to be greeted by my father, sister and daughter. It's great to be home. I definitely missed Cleveland," he said.

Lam said this has been a whirlwind year for him. 

"Definitely one big blur. Everything's gone by very quickly. Trying to slow everything down and just get back into a normal life and routine,"  Lam said.

Officer Lam has been with the Cleveland Police Department since 2008.  This was his first tour of duty overseas.