What does it take to lose everything, and then earn it all back? In this episode of The AMP’D UP211 Podcast, Rick Bontkowski sits down with Deputy Sheriff Matt Swartz, a military veteran, law enforcement veteran, instructor, and amputee who returned to full-duty police work after a catastrophic crash and leg amputation. Matt’s career spans decades of service, beginning with the New York Air National Guard in 1990 and continuing with the New York State Police, where he served as a Patrol Trooper, Field Training Officer, Firearms and Rifle Instructor, Tactical Unit member, and FBI-certified Sniper/Observer. In 2004, an off-duty crash left Matt with multiple skull fractures, brain trauma, and a crushed leg that ultimately required amputation. What followed was a long, brutal recovery and an outcome few thought possible. Through sheer determination, Matt became the first amputee New York State Trooper cleared for full, unrestricted duty, returning to the road with no accommodations and no limits. Today, Matt serves full-time as a Deputy Sheriff in Florida and speaks to amputees, first responders, and survivor communities about trauma, identity, and the mindset that carried him forward: I will win and overcome, no matter what the odds. The AMP’D UP211 Podcast amplifies real stories from the limb-loss and disability community, stories rooted in service, grit, and lived experience, not inspiration clichés. This is a conversation about duty, loss, and earning your way back.
