Sandy Rescue Officers Earn 'Cop of the Month'

Four officers in the 72nd Precinct were awarded "Cop of the Month" for a brave water rescue made during Superstorm Sandy.

Officers Ghanney, Klein, Contratto and Duliepre responded valiantly to a distress call from security guard Ronald Jefferson, who found himself stranded by storm surge waters at 29th Street and 2nd Avenue in Gowanus the night  Sandy made landfall.

At 8:30 p.m., the officers received the call and made their way to the scene. They determined immediately that Jefferson had no way of making it to safety on his own through the chest-high storm surge waters that had flooded 2nd Avenue.

Stripping their gun belts and heavy gear, the officers took a life preserver and two ropes out of their squad car and tied them to a fire hydrant above the water line.

Contratto waded out to the platform where Jefferson was stranded, securing him with the life preserver while the three remaining officers worked to make sure the ropes were secure. 

Both Contratto and Jefferson were pulled back to safety by Ghanney, Klein and Duliepre.

All of the officers involved — and Jefferson — refused medical attention at the scene, despite a call to EMS as a precaution.

After the rescue, the officers changed uniforms and went back on patrol to continue safety operations during the storm.