Double Amputee To Graduate from Suffolk County Police Departmnt Academy

LongIsland.com

Officer Matias Ferreira lost both legs after stepping on IED in 2011 while deployed in Afghanistan

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The Suffolk County Police Department announces the graduation of double amputee Matias Ferreira from the department's academy on March 24.

Photo by: LI.com News Team

Suffolk County, NY - March 23, 2017 - The Suffolk County Police Department is proud to announce the graduation of double amputee Matias Ferreira from the department's academy on March 24. Officer Ferreira is believed to be the first fully active duty double amputee police officer in the nation. 
 
In addition to passing all the rigorous challenges of the SCPD's 29-week academy training, Ferreira was elected by his peers as his class president. Ferreira will be the class speaker during tomorrow's graduation ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Field House at the Health, Sports and Education Center at Suffolk County Community College-Grant Campus, located at 502 Wicks Road in Brentwood.           
 
Ferreira, 28, lost both legs below the knees after stepping on an improvised explosive device during a tour of duty in Afghanistan with the United States Marines in 2011. Ferreira, who was born in Uruguay and moved to the United States when he was six years old, grew up in Atlanta before joining the Marines.
 
Following the amputation of his legs, Ferreira played on an all-amputee softball team that traveled the country playing against teams comprised of amputee military veterans and law enforcement personnel. It was while he was traveling as part of that team, that he met his wife, Tiffany, in 2012.
 
The couple lives in Wantagh with their 2-year-old daughter Tianna.