Fundraiser Launched to Support Port of San Diego Harbor Police Officer After Life-Threatening Medical Emergency
Contact: Gabriella Rodriguez, 619.904.2137, grodriguez@portofsandiego.org
The Port of San Diego is helping garner support for the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) Fund A Hero initiative for Officer Mitchell Collier, who remains in intensive recovery following a sudden and life-threatening medical emergency on Sept. 16, 2025.
Collier, a PORAC member Port of San Diego Harbor Police officer, suffered a seizure while at an arcade with his young sons. Their quick thinking in alerting others helped ensure Collier received immediate medical attention. He was transported to the hospital, where he spent more than ten days in the ER and Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
Doctors later discovered the cause of the seizure: a brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a dangerous tangle of blood vessels that disrupts normal blood flow and can trigger severe medical events. Since that day, Collier has undergone five surgeries, including a critical resection procedure to remove the malformation.
Due to impacts from surgery, Collier now faces a long and challenging recovery expected to take months. His wife, Sheena, has taken indefinite leave from work to care for him and their sons, adding significant financial strain on the family as they navigate medical expenses and lost income.
Officer Collier has spent his entire life protecting others – first in the U.S. Navy, then with the Kauai Police Department, and now with the Port of San Diego Harbor Police. He has received multiple life-saving awards and has always put his community first. Now, he and his family need the community’s support. Friends and colleagues describe Collier as fun-loving, devoted and big-hearted, and someone who never asks for anything in return.
To help ease the financial burden of medical bills and recovery needs the family is facing, donations can be made on the PORAC website at porac.org/fundraiser/officer-collier/ - 100 percent of donations made via the PORAC website will go to Officer Collier and his family.
To follow Officer Collier’s recovery journey, visit his Instagram page, @mitchells.support.squad.
About THE Port of San Diego
The Port of San Diego serves the people of California as a specially created district, balancing multiple uses on 34 miles along San Diego Bay spanning five cities. Collecting no tax dollars, the Port manages a diverse portfolio to generate revenues that support vital public services and amenities.
The Port champions Maritime, Waterfront Development, Public Safety, Experiences and Environment, all focused on enriching the relationship people and businesses have with our dynamic waterfront. From cargo and cruise terminals to hotels and restaurants, from marinas to museums, from 23 public parks to countless events, the Port contributes to the region’s prosperity and remarkable way of life on a daily basis.
ABOUT PORT OF SAN DIEGO PUBLIC SAFETY
Port of San Diego Public Safety protects and oversees the safety of our dynamic San Diego Bay waterfront—land and sea.
Port Public Safety is responsible for safeguarding waterfront parks and land, maintaining homeland security and collaborating with agency partners to deter crime locally and abroad. Through the Harbor Police Department, the Port provides for the safety of our communities and resources along San Diego Bay and at San Diego International Airport, and is seen as a global leader in maritime and aviation public safety.