Before joining the police department, Matthew Gerald, who was one of the three police officers killed in a shooting in Baton Rouge on Sunday, served in both the Marines and the Army. He deployed to Iraq three times, said one of his friends.
Gerald’s father confirmed his son’s death by phone Sunday afternoon, reported Jessica Contera in The Huffington Post.
The 41-year-old father of two Matthew Gerald filled his Facebook page with testaments to patriotism: American flags, police badges and photos from his service. He loved to spend his free time with his wife and two daughters, as well as fishing on his bass boat. He once took apart and rebuilt the engine just to make it louder, said Contera.
Cabral, now a police officer in Texas, described Gerald and his fellow officers as “made to serve the people.”
Nick Lambert, who also served with Gerald in the Army, said it is heartbreaking that this is the way his friend died.
“After three tours, not a scratch on him. Comes back home, chooses a job to serve others, and this is what our society does?” Lambert said. “It’s a coward’s way to make a statement.”
Click here to know more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/07/17/slain-baton-rouge-officer-matthew-gerald-served-in-the-marines-and-the-army-before-becoming-a-cop/?tid=sm_fb&utm_term=.2969bf992992
Sourced from Agencies, Featured Image Courtesy: mystatesman.com
