Police, Firefighters Honored For Rescuing Passengers From Sinking Car

ISLAND PARK, NY - Members of the Nassau County Police Department and the Island Park Fire Department were recently honored after rescuing two passengers from a car that crashed into Broad Channel in Island Park last weekend.

The driver of the car, a 24-year old man, was driving his car on Warwick Boulevard and Block Lane when he struck a utility pole, causing wires to fall into the road. He then crashed through shrubbery and a fence before going into the water.

Nassau County Police Officers Ahmad Kessba, Anthony Albanese, Paul Maywald, and Jamal Ramos of the Fourth Precinct responded to the scene and found the driver of the car on top of the sinking car and his passenger trapped inside.

The officers found a 20-foot ladder from a nearby home which they used to set it up between the car and a floating dock. Police Officer Kessba then crawled across the ladder while the other officers held on.

He was able to pull the driver onto the ladder and guide him to the dock and the other officers.

After that, he and Assistant Chief Michael Whalen of the Island Park Department held the passenger’s head above the water while they waited for assistance from another firefighter, who was wearing a wetsuit and was able to get the passenger safely back to the dock.

Police Officers Stephen Kaminskey and Gregory Caserta of the NCPD’s Aviation Bureau transported the injured passenger to a local hospital and the driver of the car was taken to a local hospital by the Island Park Fire Department.

"Our Police Officers and Communications Operators work together each and every day responding to calls for assistance and other emergencies. From the simplest kind of 911 call to a serious and life-threatening incident such as the one we heard about today, they are the lifeline to people in distress," the Nassau County Police wrote on their Facebook page. "This incident also greatly illustrates how all of the Department’s units work collaboratively during an operation like this. Our Patrol, Aviation, and Communications Bureaus all worked together to save the lives of these two people."

The police and firefighters who helped the two men were honored by Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano, Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter and Island Park Mayor Michael McGinty at a ceremony on Thursday.

“It is a true testament to these first responders that they have devoted their lives to protecting and serving the people of Nassau County,” Mangano said. “These first responders are truly deserving of the recognition accorded to them for helping save two of our residents from a tragic ending. Working collaboratively they truly made a difference.”

Photos courtesy of the Nassau County Executive's office

Pictured: Photo 1 - County Executive Mangano; Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter; Chief of Department Steve Skrynecki; Chief of Patrol Frank Kirby; Deputy Chief Ken Lack; Deputy Chief Sean McCarthy; Fourth Precinct Police Officers Ahmad Kessba, Anthony Albanese, Paul Maywald and Jamal Ramos; NCPD Aviation Police Officer Pilot Stephen Kaminskey and Police Officer Medic Gregory Caserta; and Police Communications Operator Jennifer Helicher and Police Communications Operator James Delahunty.

Photo 2 - County Executive Mangano; Island Park Mayor Michael McGinty; and Island Park Firefighters 1st Assistant Chief James Miotto; 2nd Assistant Chief Michael Whalen, Ex. Captain Donny Cardineau, Firefighter Ronald Nurnberger Jr., Firefighter Louis Quilca and Firefighter Jenna Thilman. Not pictured is Inwood Fire Department’s 1st Asst. Chief Anthony Rivelli Jr.