3 Pittsburgh officers wounded in Tree of Life shooting thank public for support

Three Pittsburgh police officers shot while responding to the attack on a Squirrel Hill synagogue nearly a year ago continue to heal and remain grateful for their city’s support.

They have not spoken publicly as the one-year mark of the shooting approaches, but they released written statements Thursday.

Zone 4 Officer Dan Mead and SWAT Officers Tim Matson and Anthony Burke remain off duty. They were shot in gun battles with the gunman at the Tree of Life synagogue Oct. 27.

Three other officers injured have returned to duty: Officers Michael Smidga, who was wounded by shrapnel, John Persin, who suffered hearing issues, and Tyler Pashel, who suffered a knee injury.

“There’s no reason why I should still be living, but I am,” Mead said.

“These poor people that lost their lives and their families, they didn’t sign up for that,” Mead said of the 11 killed among the three congregations worshipping in the synagogue that morning.

He said he prays for them daily.

“I was an officer in the wrong place at the right time,” Mead said. “I was never one of these super cops, but when it’s time to take care of business, you take care of business. That’s what we signed up for, and that’s what we did.”

He noted that he became a police officer because his father was.

Mead said he’s humbled by the thanks he continues to receive. As a former carpenter, he’s used to people saying, “Hey, nice job,” and then he’d move on to the next assignment.

Pittsburgh’s Jewish community has been “so appreciative,” he said. “It’s overwhelming. They’re saying ‘thank you,’ but I need to say ‘thank you’ to them.”

While his healing continues, there are others in need of more support, Burke said.

“There are 11 families who continue to grieve and heal,” he said. “Please direct your continued support toward them during this tragic weekend and going forward.”

He thanked the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, saying that without them, “The burden of everyday life would be unbearable.”

Burke also had a message for those in Pittsburgh who have offered encouragement, donated and volunteered: “Yinz are the best.”

Matson said he has never experienced anything like the support he’s received in the past year. He was shot more than a half-dozen times in a gunfight with Robert Bowers inside the synagogue.

“In more ways than I can express, your support helped me through the toughest time of my life,” he said.

After multiple surgeries and a monthlong hospital stay, he said the list of UPMC staff is too long to give proper thanks.

To his SWAT teammates, his message was simple: “Your actions that day are why I’m here.”