An Orlando Police Officer who was seriously injured when a driver hit him last July is back in the hospital once again.

Officer William Anderson is undergoing spinal cord surgery and was airlifted to the hospital from a rehab center over the weekend.

Anderson's condition has "deteriorated significantly recently," according to the GoFundMe page set up in support of the police officer.

“I remember seeing his name a lot in the reports and arrests that he made,” Orlando Police Chief John Mina said Monday. "Great all-around police officer.”

While it’s easy for Mina to sing Anderson's praises, the chief said watching dash cam video from Anderson's traffic stop -- even months later -- is still difficult.

"Every time I watch it, it just breaks my heart,” he said. “He's out protecting his community and is run over by a criminal. I know it’s even harder to watch for his wife and his family."

The eight-year OPD veteran was gravely injured when he was run over by a suspect while conducting a traffic stop near Kirkman Road and Vineland Street. Three men involved in the incident were arrested.

In a family video posted online, Anderson and his wife, Jessica, talked about the rocky road to recovery. The officer now suffers from chronic pain, headaches and impaired vision. He walks with a cane, needing the help of a service dog, and hasn't been able to pick up his daughter, Abby, since the accident.

While nearly $60,000 dollars raised from the GoFundMe site helped defray medical costs, police said Anderson's condition recently deteriorated, causing him to be airlifted to a specialty hospital.

"I tell people all the time, we're human just like everyone else,” said Mina. "It's very tough to watch, tough for his fellow officers. Luckily, we're a big family here. Everyone kind of rallied around him to support him, and we're going to give him everything he needs."

Orlando Police said, pending a positive outcome of the surgery, Anderson should return to a rehab facility, maybe even back to duty.

In the meantime, Mina just hopes the community doesn't take police service for granted.

"I think sometimes we forget these men and women, they have families,” he said. “They're out there protecting us, and in a blink of an eye, your whole life can come crashing down just because you’re out there trying to do your job, keep people safe.”

Back in January, we learned Anderson would not face charges for firing his weapon during the traffic stop, following a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation. The FDLE found Anderson was acting in self-defense.

NOTE: This Gofundme.com site is not managed by Bay News 9/News 13. For more information on how the site works and the rules visit  http://www.gofundme.com/safety