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Law Enforcement Perspectives with Hannah Simon, PoliceOne Associate Editor

Trooper interviewed in Blood Lessons named Athlete of the Month

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Swartz at the 2008 NY Police and Fire Games.(Photo courtesy Matt Swartz and the NY Police and Fire Games)

Trooper Matt Swartz has been chosen as the Athlete of the Month for April by the 2011 World Police and Fire Games. Swartz was the subject of Chapter 9: Bionic Trooper in Chuck Remsberg's most recent book, Blood Lessons. After losing his leg in a horrifying car accident, Swartz became the first trooper in the 89-year history of the New York State Police to work with what the agency terms "full and strenuous duty" on the road, despite an amputated limb. The following is a brief description of Swartz, courtesy of the 2011 World Police and Fire Games:

Matt Swartz is a native New Yorker. He has been an active firearms competitor for many years and has been competing in the New York Police and Fire Games since 2004. After suffering multiple severe injuries, including the loss of his leg, in an automobile crash in late 2004, Matt returned to competition in the summer of 2005 with a renewed vigor.

His events have been Pistol and Rifle and he has won medals in many of his attempts. Matt’s primary interest is in that of long range precision rifle competitions and those are his primary competition goals, but admits that he truly loves the speed of the Police Pistol Combat and Olympic Speed courses. With prior military service and being distinguished as an expert marksman numerous times, Matt is no stranger to the common goal of firearms accuracy.

Matt has served 15 years as a police officer and is a firearms instructor as well as a general topics instructor with his agency. Matt also serves as a Lieutenant with his hometown volunteer fire department. Having been part of his agencies response to lower Manhattan after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, Matt looks forward to returning to the “City that never sleeps” to compete and represent police officers in the 2011 World Police and Fire Games of on the 10 year anniversary of the attacks.

Read more about Trooper Swartz in Book Excerpt: "Bionic Trooper" from Blood Lessons
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