Matias Ferreira has doubtless grown weary of reporter interviews. The 28-year-old moved here to the U.S. from Uruguay when he was 6 years old and later joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He’s now married with a 2-year-old daughter.
Following his recent graduation from the Suffolk County Police Academy, he was sworn in before family and friends. President of his graduating class, Ferreira was known for his can-do spirit and never-say-die attitude. Both will come in handy for the double amputee. Ferreira is the first double amputee to serve as a sworn officer for the SCPD. Police officials believe he may also be the only one on active duty in law enforcement in this country.
News accounts and interviews have portrayed the young officer as cheerful, upbeat and undaunted by what some would consider his limitations. But where others see limitations, he sees opportunities. Now, he faces a career that will be remarkable, not only because he first had to overcome his own disability, but he also had to convince an interview board that he can and will do the job.
Police work is hard and physical. In the entertainment media, cops are usually portrayed as big and burly, overweight, out-of-shape, donut shop fixtures or women tippy-tapping around in high heels. These stereotypes do occur in real life (although I have yet to meet a modern female officer who wears heels to work), but most cops are squared-away and anxious to do their best in a profession that’s both difficult and oft-maligned. Ferreira will fit nicely into modern policing.
As a Marine (and you will notice I don’t say ex-Marine because once a Marine, you’re a Marine for life), he understands the discipline and courage it takes to do the job. And having lost both legs below the knee after an IED exploded beneath his feet in Afghanistan, he’s no stranger to danger.
While some sink into depression following such a terrible experience, Ferreira aggressively worked to get his life back on track. He played softball with other amputees and remained in excellent physical condition. He worked diligently to keep his mind, physical capability and attitude strong and on point. And he prepared himself for a police career the same way Marines train for battle: with single-mindedness of purpose and a determination that can win wars.
Veterans have always been great candidates for police work; I served with a number of them and they almost uniformly made good officers. Perhaps it’s time to toss the recruiting nets a little deeper into vet territory see how many Wounded Warriors can suit up again in the service of their cities and counties.
There’s no real reason to discount a police candidate because of a physical disability. In a cursory look around the internet, I found Wounded Warriors working in emergency management and the medical fields. Why shouldn’t they consider a move into law enforcement?
We need good police candidates. Wounded vets need jobs. Sounds to me like a pretty good match.
