SCRANTON, Pa. — After almost two months in rehab, Detective Kyle Gilmartin returned home surrounded by brothers and sisters in blue and a community that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for his recovery.
"My family and I are beyond proud of Northeastern Pennsylvania and how its people responded to this senseless tragedy. We thank you for the prayers which have worked, as well as the donations, which will be needed greatly in the future," said Detective Kyle Gilmartin.
Since the alleged gang related shooting that injured Gilmartin on January 11th, countless fundraisers from pancake breakfasts to tee shirt sales have taken place.
Just hours after he returned to the electric city, members of the St. Patrick's Parade Committee of Lackawanna County gathered at Coopers Sea Food House to tap a firkin Irish stout keg.
Officially ringing in the parade season and collecting funds for the injured detective.
"Without the Scranton Police Department, we don't have our parade. They provide security and protection for everybody in downtown Scranton that day, so to be able to give back to them, it was a no-brainer," said Michael O'Malley, President of the Saint Patrick's Parade Association of Lackawanna County.
Fellow Scranton Police Detective Paul Tomczyk has been overwhelmed by the communities support.
"They still manage to come together, whether they were selling Cupcakes or crab legs or haircuts, they were doing it, and they were donating it cause they came together as a community. One thing this tragedy did is it brought the community together," said Detective Tomczyk.
Tomczyk started a GoFundMe for Gilmartin and his family, so far more than 2500 have contributed, raising more than $200,000.
"Overwhelmed really, honestly we had no idea the support would come that quickly. I mean maybe overtime but man, it was just amazing the community coming together," added Tomczyk.
Detective Gilmartin still has a long road to recovery ahead of him but for now he is back home.