SMITHTOWN, N.Y. (1010 WINS) -- A Suffolk County police officer who is believed to be the first double amputee in the U.S. to serve on the force has been named the New York Jets’ “Veteran of the Game” on Oct. 5 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Officer Matias Ferreira, 36, lost both of his legs below the knee in an IED explosion while serving in Afghanistan in 2011, when he was 21.
The Jets surprised the Marine veteran at a press conference on Wednesday.
“I’m shocked, honestly very shocked,” Ferreira said.
In addition to living out his dream as a police officer, he also worked in the police academy training hundreds of officers.
Ferreira, who was awarded a Purple Heart, called the past 15 years since his injury “a blur.”
“I’ve learned a lot about myself,” he said.
“There’s so many incredible things happening, that if we focus on the bad, that’s all we’re going to look at,” Ferreira said. “So I’m always looking for the positive.”