Brooklyn detective wounded in gunfight receives promotion amid recovery
Detective Matthew Gale, shot during a June standoff with an armed man in Brooklyn, was promoted to second-grade detective while recuperating on crutches.
In June, NYPD detective Matthew Gale was injured when he entered a Bedford-Stuyvesant brownstone to stop a gunman threatening elderly neighbors. The suspect, Lamin Simmons, opened fire, striking Gale in the shin before four officers returned fire and killed him. Gale underwent surgery, received a rod and screws, and now moves with crutches while undergoing therapy.
On Friday, he walked onto the stage at One Police Plaza in Manhattan, where Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch promoted him to second-grade detective. In a video interview, Gale said he called his wife Kelly from the street to calm her and said he hopes to rejoin the elite Emergency Services Unit soon. Union leaders praised his bravery and resilience, noting his promotion as a rare achievement.
Why it matters
The story highlights the risks police face and honors a wounded officer’s dedication and recovery.
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