Responder Rescue Helps St. Charles Man Hurt in Line of Duty

Responder Rescue helps first responders who are injured while helping others.

St. Charles resident Matt Crosby is one person who was helped by the organization. Crosby, an officer from the  was shot and paralyzed while responding to a domestic violence complaint on April 8.

Crosby, a father of three, is now paralyzed from the chest down. 

This week, Crosby received a Medal of Valor for heroically putting his own life at risk to protect others. See related story: 

“I was shot in the head on the left side and the left shoulder,” Crosby said. “The one in my shoulder ended up ricocheting off of my clavicle and went into my spine.”

Crosby is grateful for Responder Rescue. The non-profit group held a fundraiser for Crosby after he was injured to raise money to help with his expenses.

“What we do is we try to help any police officer, firefighter, EMS worker that’s been injured, sick, hurt or suffered a traumatic situation, anything along that line,” said Patrick Byrne, a captain with the Riverview Fire Department and founder of Responder Rescue. “We’re just the opposite of the Backstoppers. They take care of the families after someone is killed in the line of duty. We take care of the guys that live.”

Byrne said it’s often friends or relatives who contact Responder Rescue on behalf of injured first responders.

“A lot of people in those professions are too proud to ask for help,” Byrne said. “We try to help in any situation that could help with some of the bills the guys can’t pay.” 

Crosby says he would like to get back into police work again, perhaps by fighting cybercrime.

“I have dreams about going back to work just like I was before,” Crosby said. “I miss it a lot.”

Crosby says Responder Rescue has helped him realize he is not alone.

“They stay in close contact with me," Crosby said. "There have been a lot of fundraisers since mine with other people. I attend and try to get the word out about their organization and help them out because a lot of people know who I am. It’s just a great organization, a good bunch of people."

Now Crosby is returning the favor. He will be an honorary chairperson at a Celebrity Karaoke fundraiser on Veterans Day on Nov. 11 in the Rams Club at the Edward Jones Dome. Proceeds from the event will benefit Responder Rescue and Camp Hope, a retreat for wounded veterans in Farmington, MO.

For more information about the organization, visit the Responder Rescue website.