HOUSTON – Newly released photographs show now-President Joe Biden quietly visited an injured Houston police officer in the hospital a little more than a year ago. Officer Taylor Roccaforte was shot three times while pursuing a robbery suspect shortly after the Democratic debate in Houston in 2019. “It was very unexpected and it was special to me,” Taylor Roccaforte told KPRC 2 on Wednesday. Samuel Roccaforte, Taylor’s father and a fellow HPD officer, said Biden didn’t want any press at the hospital. “It was really a nice time for us to see him there and was very calming for my son,” Samuel Roccaforte said.

Joe Biden visits HPD Officer Taylor Roccaforte on Sept. 15, 2019 after he was shot by a suspect following the DNC presidential debate at Texas Southern University on Sept. 12, 2019. HOUSTON – Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo recalled a fond memory of now-President Joe Biden on Twitter Wednesday, shortly after Biden was sworn into office. On Thursday Sept 12, 2019, a @houstonpolice officer was shot by a suspect shortly after the end of the @DNC Presidential Debate @TexasSouthern. Acevedo said the officer, family and hospital staff were all lifted by Biden’s visit. Acevedo said the officer, Taylor Roccaforte, shared two photos of Biden’s visit on Sept. 15, 2019.

Taylor Roccaforte grew up idolizing his father Sam who has spent almost 40 years with the Houston Police Department. Its something that I always loved, Taylor Roccaforte said. Our camera crew caught up with the pair as they preparing to participate in the annual Houston Police Department Physical fitness test. For me, it was challenging, I still run every other day but the sprint is hard on me, Sam Roccaforte said. When anybody calls you and says your son has been shot you want to say are you kidding me?