Long Beach : Police Chief Recovering From Intestinal Surgery
Police Chief Lawrence Binkley will be off work for several weeks while recovering from emergency surgery for an intestinal infection, Sgt. Gary Halliday said this week.
“He’s doing fine,” Halliday said. “He’s up, he’s walking around already. He’s healing faster than the doctor thought.”
Binkley, 48, suffered from diverticulitis, a common disease that produces small sacs on the large intestine. Binkley was rushed to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center in the early morning hours the day after Thanksgiving and operated on by dawn, Halliday said.
Recovery time varies, depending on the severity of the case, said Stephen Severance, chairman of the departments of internal medicine and gastroenterology at Long Beach Memorial. The average recovery time is two to four weeks, he said.
Halliday said the chief’s absence will not affect contract negotiations with the Police Officers Assn. Last week, the City Council declared an impasse and the two sides are planning to take their heated battle to court in two weeks.
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