PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A man who literally put his life on the line for our safety was given a well-deserved honor on Monday. Detective Kyle Gilmartin, who was shot in the line of duty in Scranton in January of 2024, was named a Hometown Hero.
The Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick gathered for its 111th Annual Saint Patrick's Day Award Dinner in Pittston, the first time it has been held in the city since 1956.
Each year, awards are given to community leaders and residents who have regularly given back to their communities.
This year, Detective Kyle Gilmartin was presented with the organization's first hometown heroes award for his courage, resilience, and bravery during service.
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"I appreciate the hero award but I'm not a hero. The police officers I was with that night are the heroes and the surgeons and medical staff that brought me back to life. Without them I wouldn't be here," Detective Gilmartin explained.
Gilmartin, a former Scranton Police Detective, was shot twice in the head in January of 2024 as he and other officers were responding to gunfire in West Scranton.
Gilmartin says he's still recovering, but the progress he has made so far has been remarkable.
"Detective Kyle Gilmartin went through a major bout earlier this year, and he's made tremendous strides, so we're happy to be honoring him tonight," President of the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick Sean Rooney said.
During his acceptance speech, Gilmartin named a number of local police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. These officers, Gilmartin says, are the real heroes.
"I also wanted to remind everybody, I survived, and you know there's a lot of great police officers from this area, two I believe graduated from Pittston Area, one graduated from Wyoming Area. Most importantly I'd like to thank God for giving me a second chance and to be able to thank everybody," Gilmartin continued.
The Friendly Sons say they plan to continue the Hometown Heroes Award in the years to come.
