PBSO veteran dies after long battle with ALS

Cpl. John Anderson, a veteran of the Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office, died Jan. 19 after a long battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Anderson, a Wellington resident, worked at PBSO for nearly 26 years serving in various capacities including trainer, K-9 handler and a member of the department’s SWAT unit.

Anderson, 53, is survived by his wife, Linda, and their 11-year-old daughter, Miranda. Linda Anderson is a detective with PBSO.

In December 2010, Anderson was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the neurodegenerative disease more commonly known by the famous baseball player it’s named for.

During a 2012 benefit held for him, Anderson told a Post reporter that he had little knowledge of the disease and had to go home to Google it.

“I had no idea what road was ahead of me,” said Anderson, a former U.S. Marine.

Medication and therapy can slow the effects of ALS, but there is no cure. There are fewer than 20,000 cases in the U.S. per year.

The disease causes muscle weakness and by October 2012, Anderson was using a motor scooter to get around. He retired from PBSO in August 2013.

PBSO posted a video in Anderson’s honor on the department’s Facebook page that had been viewed more than 11,000 times by Friday afternoon. Scores of messages expressing thanks and condolences to Anderson and his family were left in the comments section.

In one segment of the video filmed about a year after he was diagnosed, Anderson talks about his approach to the battle that faced him.

“I’m going to limit the amount of bad days that I have because I don’t have much longer,” Anderson said. “I know that. I’m going to be as happy and as positive as I can be.”

The video ends with the words: “We’ll miss you, John. Rest in peace brother.”