One hell of a lady -- and one hell of a story

You can't help but be moved by the story of LAPD officer Kristina Ripatti, also a wife and mother, who was paralyzed from the chest down by a robber's bullet while she was on patrol. Now she's fighting with all she's got to gain as much mobility as she can with intense physical therapy.

It all made for a powerful Sunday package with story by Brent Hopkins and photos by Hans Gutknecht. Brent has been writing these longer features for awhile, and he's really doing some good work. Kudos to him and Hans -- and to the Daily News brass who are encouraging staffers to turn out these in-depth stories.

I especially like the way Brent continuously shifts the story back and forward in time, here and there in place.

And as for Officer Ripatti and her husband -- also an LAPD officer and her onetime partner (they got together in a romantic sense after theire on-the-job partnership ended -- it's all in the story) -- you see the kind of outstanding human beings who dedicate their lives to protecting our city.