Detective Matthew Gale of The Emergency Service Unit (ESU) was stretchered out of Kings County Hospital just after 11:30 a.m. on June 23 to a massive round of applause by a legion of fellow cops. Gale waved from the stretcher and was greeted by top police brass, such as Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Chief of Department Michael LiPetri. Gale had been hospitalized with a gunshot wound since Friday.

“This poor detective had to be here on Father’s Day with his children at home. All the police officers, bosses, and the Police Commissioner are out here today showing support that this detective is finally going home,” Detectives Endowment Association President Scott Munro said. “He feels good. He’s feeling good, and he’s in good spirits, as you can see.”

The NYPD detective who was shot in the leg during a Brooklyn standoff with an emotionally disturbed gunman last week was released from hospital Tuesday to a hero’s welcome.Photo by Dean Moses

The 15-year-veteran Gale was injured after confronting 48-year-old Lamin Simmons who appeared to suffer a mental breakdown while feuding with his upstairs, elderly neighbors, police said. Cops were first called to 5:45 a.m. on June 19 at 190 Kosciuszko St. in Bedford-Stuyvesant. 

According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, cops arrived at the scene after some seven shots were fired inside the brownstone. When officers from the 79th Precinct arrived, they found Simmons with a firearm and immediately retreated. Things escalated later that morning when Simmons reportedly started throwing a microwave, a lamp, and pots from his apartment window.

When Gale and his fellow ESU members entered the building and confronted Simmons, they found him on the same floor as his neighbors, resulting in a wild shootout.

“Officers gave multiple direct orders to drop the gun, but he refused. The perpetrator fired at our officers, striking one officer in the leg. At least four officers returned fire, striking the perpetrator. He was transported to Woodhull Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased,” Tisch said on Friday, adding that Simmons fired some 20 shots over the course of the standoff. “Two firearms were recovered at the scene, a Beretta handgun and with an extended magazine and a Jimenez Arms 380 caliber handgun.”

Detective Matthew Gale of The Emergency Service UnitPhoto by Dean Moses

Meanwhile, Gale was rushed to Kings County Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a tibial fracture of the left leg. 

Munro told amNewYork he is concerned about those living with extreme mental illness.

“It’s getting very scary out there. I think the governor, the mayor, the city council, we have to do something about the emotionally disturbed people. We have to do something in New York City about that. We have a lot of people, not just police officers and detectives, everybody getting hurt. We have civilians out there, the people of City New York. We’re going to have to work on that moving forward,” Munro said.

While Simmons’ loved ones told police that he had a history of mental illness, the NYPD did not have a documented EDP history with him.