Long Island Police Officer Hero For 2nd Time During Times Square Car Rampage

FLANDERS, NY — A New York City Police officer who lives in Flanders is a hometown hero for the second time: He was on the scene Thursday when a car careened into a crowd of pedestrians at Times Square.

It wasn't the first time that Peter Cybulski, who grew up in Riverhead but now lives in Flanders, was hailed a hero in recent months: In July, he made news worldwide as part of a heroic duo who raced to remove what could have been a bomb from Times Square.

Cybulski gave his chilling first-person account of Thursday's events at Times Square to Patch.

"I was actually right around the area. I quickly ran over, and the scene was very hectic. There were people running every direction screaming and crying and yelling for help," he said.

"My first priority was to go after the driver of the car so he couldn't hurt anyone else," he said. "Once I heard other officers had him in custody I quickly went to W. 43 Street and 7th Avenue and tried to help as many people as I could. I wasn't scared for myself. I just didn't want anyone else to get hurt."

The hardest part, he said, was not knowing what was happening and if there were any more threats to the area, he said.

"I wanted to help anyone that was hurt and at the same time be cautious that there could be a possibility of other attacks," he said.

What he saw will stay with him forever.

"I was, unfortunately, right next to the girl that had died. There were other officers with her already, and all we could do was try to comfort the family as much as we could," he said.

The man who plowed his car into a Times Square sidewalk full of pedestrians, killing one and injuring 22 more, is facing murder charges, police said late Thursday night.

Bronx resident Richard Rojas was apprehended after his deadly drive through Times Square, authorities said, with the help of civilians and NYPD officers who chased him down when he tried to flee the area. Police have charged Rojas with murder, 20 counts of attempted murder and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.

Michigan tourist Alyssa Elsman, who was visiting the city with her family, was killed on Thursday, authorities said. Her 13-year-old sister was among those injured. Elsman, 18, was from Portage, Michigan.

Cybulski said he ran over to about 10 injured people and did whatever he could to help, wrapping injuries, putting pressure on their wounds, helping to put splints on broken bones and put on neck braces.

"I tried to keep them and their families as calm as possible while telling them that we were there to help and we were going to take care of them. Every first responder did an amazing job, and we all worked together to help save as many lives as we could."

The area, he said, was filled with people running over to say they were off-duty police officers, doctors and EMS and offering to help.

"It was truly a team effort, and I praise everyone that did whatever they could do to help in such a scary time. I pray for the victims and their families and grieve for their losses. It's never easy seeing something like this happen, but it helps knowing you did the best you could to be there for everyone and to do what we do best — to serve and protect."

He was honored at Jets Stadium in December for his amazing show of bravery during the Times Square bomb scare.

"Getting honored at Jets Stadium was an amazing experience that I will never forget," said Cybulski, 25, who graduated from Riverhead High School but now lives in Flanders. "The energy on the field from all the pre-game celebrations was amazing."

Cybulski was on patrol in New York City on July 21, parked at Broadway and Duffy Square at 11:30 p.m. with Sgt. Hameed Armani, when a suspect tossed what appeared to be a bomb into a police van in Times Square.

The officers, in a fierce show of bravery, sped with the device out of a crowded Times Square before taking the device out of their van and securing it, police said. It was then determined to be a hoax.

In the months since, Cybulski has been lauded for his heroism.

Cybulski was also honored at a medal day for the 75th Precinct for two gun and robbery arrests he made when he worked there before transferring to the Times Square unit in February, 2016. "The arrests were also with Sergeant Armani, who was with me in the car for the bomb incident," he said.

Suffolk County accolades

Cybulski was also recognized by Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, as well as Suffolk County Police Commissioner Tim Sini, Chief of Department Stuart Cameron and Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter.

Cybulski and Armani were honored during a special ceremony, during which the pair received the county's highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal, the equivalent of the Medal of Honor, given by the military, Cybulski said.

He is only the 22nd person ever to receive the medal, Cybulski said. "It was such an amazing and humbling feeling to be presented with the medal. They all couldn't have been nicer and said the most heartfelt and encouraging words to my sergeant and me, and truly thanked us for our actions when dealt with such a scary and horrible situation," he said.

Saving others is his life's mission, Cybulski said.

"I took this job to make a difference in someone's life and they said that we made a difference in millions of lives. We made worldwide news for our actions and represented all the brave and selfless officers that work around the nation and world every day," he said.

Reflecting on the July life-or-death incident, as he raced from Times Square with what could have been a ticking bomb in his squad car, Cybulski said, "I thank God every day that I am still alive to tell this amazing story."

He recounted those harrowing moments in time. "It was a terrifying few minutes, holding the bomb in my lap while my sergeant drove. I was ready for it to go off but glad that only he and I were going to die, and no one else. We said our prayers and waited together for it to go off."

Reflecting on that day, Cybulski added, "It would have been so easy for me to throw the bomb out of the car and run but my conscious wouldn't let me do that. I took this job to serve and protect the innocent and if that means giving my life to save someone else I'm okay with that."

During the tense day, the suspect sped off and was seen at Columbus Circle, leading to an hours-long standoff; police arrested Hector Meneses, 52, of Queens after he refused to leave his vehicle, donned a red helmet and sunglasses, according to news reports.

In the end, the device was believed to be a wax candle, a battery operated lantern, tin foil and a white piece of clothing.

"I was just praying that God would take care of my family and know that I did in my heart what I had to do — and that they would understand and be proud of me," Cybulski said.

Lead photo courtesy of Brittany Rocco

Car image via Drew Angerer / Staff / Getty Images News/ Getty Images

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With reporting by Ciara McCarthy