Detective Matthew Gale, who was shot in the leg during a tense standoff in Brooklyn earlier this year, has been promoted to second-grade detective and expressed his commitment to returning to the NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit (ESU). The nearly 20-year veteran spoke publicly for the first time since the June 19 incident.
During a ceremony at One Police Plaza in Manhattan on Friday, Gale reflected on the shooting, stating his primary thought was to resolve the situation as safely as possible. "I don’t think I did anything that any of the other guys in the Emergency Services Unit wouldn’t have done themselves," Gale said in an interview with his union.
The incident occurred when officers responded to calls of shots fired at a brownstone in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Upon entering the building, they encountered 48-year-old Lamin Simmons, who was holding a gun. Simmons fired on officers, striking Gale in the shin before four officers returned fire, killing the gunman. Simmons had reportedly been feuding with an elderly couple trapped in their apartment within the building.
Despite his injury, Gale was able to call his wife from the scene to reassure her. He underwent surgery, receiving a rod and screws in his leg, and has been undergoing physical therapy. He is currently using crutches but is focused on his recovery and return to active duty.
"I was just thinking about getting the job done as safely as possible," Gale said, noting that he is working hard to regain his previous level of fitness. He expressed pride in his promotion, acknowledging that reaching second-grade detective is a significant achievement.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch presented Gale with his promotion. Detectives’ Endowment Association President Scott Munro praised Gale's "courage, resilience, and dedication," calling him an embodiment of the best of NYPD detectives.
Gale stated that the shooting has reinforced his belief in his work and his unit. "This has reaffirmed everything that I know," he said. "I work in the best unit on the job."