Three weeks ago, Officer Brendon Gallagher was fighting to stay alive at Stony Brook University Hospital.
On the night of Sunday, Jan. 6th, a mustang-driver who had skated on many priors taunted the highway patrolmen into a chaotic Long Island Expressway chase.
This culminated in the perpetrator side-striking Gallagher, who lost control of his vehicle, which off-roaded, and flipped over.
As Gallagher lay comatose and in critical condition hours after being emergency-airlifted to Long Island's premier medical center, charged-up local leaders gathered outside the Emergency Room entrance in the blistering cold. It was a bleak-as-can-be morning where the sun refused to shine for seemingly obvious reasons.
They took turns demanding the negligent sector of policymakers in Albany do a better job; or, better yet, to simply do their jobs.
By month’s end, the culprit appears slated to reap what he has sown for a change, although seasoned skeptics will believe it when they see it.
But this is not a story about the villain. This a story about the hero.
Gallagher—for the second time in three years—left Stony Brook Hospital in better shape than when he was admitted. In December of 2022, he was stabbed in Medford while on the job. Upon recovery, he opted for Highway Patrol, as opposed to desk duty detail.
This came as no surprise whatsoever to those who know Gallagher most. After all, before joining the Suffolk County Police force, he was a decorated Veteran who served in the U.S. Army National Guard for 10 years, highlighted by a tour in Afghanistan (2016-2017).
When someone such as this answers the call, you best believe it is going to take a whole lot more than these ill-advised efforts for Brendon Gallagher to hang it up without a fight.
The same local legislators who joined in solidarity a few weeks back returned to convene at the same post, all down an outer layer at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 27th thanks to the absence of snowfall and the highly anticipated presence of the near-fallen.
After a reprisal - emphatically placing the ball in the greater state government's bail reform-reticent court - local leaders could next redeem a more positive outlook, and even muster a grin or two this go-around; for Officer Gallagher was discharged by midday.
Rays of light beamed down upon Gallagher as he was wheeled out of the hospital and through the exit doors, his family and trusted trauma specialist Dr. James A. Vosswinkel (“Voss”) by his side.
An uproarious applause ignited the area with perfectly wrought glee. It was as if Gallagher were this week's "Saturday Night Live" bursting onto the mainstage to perform their monologue, if this week's host had knocked on death's door at the top of the month and lived to tell the tale some 22 days later.
Also in tow: Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. Along with his fellow revered lawmen across the county and Long Island in general, Romaine ensured that upon greeting the daylight once more, Officer Gallagher would meet far more than a mere ordinary welcome.
As of Monday, Gallagher re-enters a world he has proven to uphold his commitment to serve and protect time and time again.
All those in attendance for this most sublime occasion would concur: a bagpipe serenade has never sounded sweeter. The celebratory context especially rendered this so, compared to the grave alternative that Gallagher narrowly avoided, and the community at large repelled against in their prayers for weeks on end.
“Today is a good day," said Suffolk Police Benevolent Association President Lou Civello. "We are profoundly grateful that Brendon’s life has been spared. And that’s due in no small part to Dr. Voss [and his staff]."
Before retrieving Gallagher for his transport back home to his parents, sister and girlfriend, Dr. Voss confirmed to the packed turnout that “miraculous” headway had already been made with regard to the medical status of his locally high-profile patient. Voss said that at one point, Brendon was so weak, "he couldn’t even bring his hand to his mouth."
On Officer Gallagher's lingering nerve damage, Dr. Voss told The South Shore Press between on-the-scene interviews with 1010 Wins and ABC7 Eyewitness News that he hopes no other surgeries will be required. However, he indicates there is a likelihood that repairs will be imminent, given the particulars.
“The concern is how damaged his abdomen was,” Dr. Voss revealed to The South Shore Press. “Unfortunately, there’s this thing [with lacerations] when it comes to your abdomen… it’s not a clean cut. There’s a chance we’re going to have to reconstruct his abdominal wall.”
Voss views the outcome of additional operations with relative aplomb, should they be deemed necessary. He is confident in his team and the determination of a patient he, in a perfect world, probably wishes he did not know as well as he does now, having also treated Gallagher for his 2022 injuries.
“He’s a young healthy guy, obviously we’ll get him through this," Voss continued. "But as you can imagine, from the disability perspective, it’s a very severe injury. So we’re praying that everything stays together.”
Civello called Brendon’s courage “a stark contrast to the lack of conviction" of Albany's leaders.
“This is a tragedy that could have been prevented if we had common sense laws in this state,” he said. “We ask of the governor, and the State Senate, and the Assembly to reform these laws. Our police officers should not be put in danger unnecessarily."
Adds Civello: "...[we should be able to] take these cars, to take back our roads, to take back our rails, and to make them safe again.”
The South Shore Press sends the Gallagher family its thoughts and prayers, and wishes Officer Gallagher a speedy recovery.
Brendon Gallagher conveyed his appreciation in a brief statement to the crowd outside Stony Brook University Hospital: “I just want to thank everyone for their support.”
No, thank you, Officer.