After years of service, Clinton police officer forced to retire as kidney disease and diabetes take their toll

CLINTON — A former police officer with the Clinton Police Department is facing multiple serious health issues that caused him to stop working nearly one year ago. Friends are putting together a benefit on July 26th to help him with expenses since he’s been out of work.

Malcolm Turner, an officer with the Clinton Police Department for 13 years, was diagnosed with diabetes but started facing more health concerns that impeded his ability to stay on the job in the past year. During this time, he has stayed in the hospital, needed multiple surgeries, and started dialysis.

Turner’s last day on the job with Clinton PD was in September 2024, where he was actually transported to the hospital from the office by ambulance. That day, he said he wasn’t feeling very well, and felt a bit faint at times.

His blood pressure was off and he found out his kidneys weren’t doing well.

“That’s when I got the devastating news that I was in stage five kidney disease,” he said. He wouldn’t be returning to wok.

After being in the hospital, Turner, who has diabetes, lost vision in both eyes, leaving him blind for three months. His retinas had detached as an effect from the diabetes, filling his eyes with blood. He needed four surgeries total. Two of the surgeries removed the cataracts from his eyes and then surgeons reattached his retinas.

“When I couldn’t see, it was a life-changing situation,” Turner recalled. “I was always on the go, and once that shuts down and you can’t do nothing, it drives you crazy.”

The surgeries have helped restore more of his vision, but it’s still not where it was before.

“I can see pretty good out of one eye. The other eye, I can see light and see objects, but they’re not really clear,” Turner explained.

After March, when his vision started to improve, Turner started having issues with his kidneys failing.

“It’s just been one thing after another,” he told UWK.

Turner is on dialysis Monday through Friday and is hopeful that next week, he can start the treatments at home instead of traveling to the center every time. He and his wife have gone through training at the dialysis center to be able to do the kidney treatment at his home.

He will be talking with his doctor soon about the possibility of a transplant for both kidneys, but at this time, Turner said he’s not on the list to receive one.

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Benefit dinner on July 26

On Saturday, July 26th, a benefit dinner will take place at Sonny’s Place (23431 Plank Road) in Zachary to help Malcolm Turner and his wife since he’s been unable to work.

Although he initially had some money saved up, it become harder on them with bills and medical expenses, Turner said. His wife works and recently ran out of her vacation time while going to training for the dialysis treatments.

“It’s kind of hard right now, but it’s OK because everything’s going to work out,” he said.

The event on Saturday starts at 11 a.m. and will run until dinners are sold out. Plates will include red beans and rice, fried chicken, and macaroni and cheese for $13.