By Police1 Staff
EASTON, Pa. — The IACP honored a Pennsylvania trooper who was critically wounded in a shootout during a traffic stop.
Lehigh Valley Live reports that the IACP named Cpl. Seth Kelly the 2017 Trooper of the Year on Friday. Kelly was among four finalists nominated from law enforcement agencies across the U.S. and Canada.
On Nov. 7, Kelly was critically wounded after being shot four times while backing up Trooper Ryan Seiple during a traffic stop. Kelly was in a medically-induced coma for 12 days after being shot. He was released from the ICU on Dec. 1.
In a video about the award, Kelly recalled the shooting for the first time and said the first thing he remembered was waking up in intensive care and being told he was “going to be OK.”
“I’m not really sure what happened cause I have no recollection of the incident whatsoever,” Kelly said in the video.
Kelly said he was shot once in the femoral artery in his left thigh, twice in the shoulder and once in the neck.
“I’m just extremely lucky to be here right now,” Kelly said.
Capt. Richard D’Ambrosio said he was proud of Kelly and the rest of the troopers involved that day.
“The strength and the will that he displayed that day, not only at the scene but during his fight and his recovery while in the hospital, it was something that made myself and made all the members of our department and our community out here in eastern Pennsylvania very proud,” D’Ambrosio said.
Daniel Khalil Clary is charged with firing at Kelly and Seiple, who was not struck in the shooting. He’s being held in prison and awaiting trial on attempted homicide and other related charges.