Stuart Hyde, ex-chief constable of Cumbria Police, was put into a medically-induced coma and treated for the viral infection.
Mike Pannett, co-director of the 4 Policing consultancy with Mr Hyde, said he was now out of the coma and talking.
He said his family thanked everyone for the messages of love and support which had helped them all "so much".
Mr Hyde retired in 2013 after being suspended twice from the force, investigated and cleared.
A former top British police officer is out of a coma after contracting meningitis while working in Abu Dhabi.