taped to the front door of the First Precinct following his death. Photo by Tequila Minsky
The First Precinct, which serves the southern tip of Manhattan, is in mourning during this post-hurricane period, having lost one of its own the night of the storm surge. Police Officer Artur Kasprzak, 28, a six-year department veteran, died while helping seven family members to safety inside his flood-ravaged home on Staten Island during Hurricane Sandy.
With water rapidly rising, Kasprzak, who was off duty, safely got six adults, including his mother, father and fianc√©e, plus a 15-month-old boy into the attic. He then told one of the women he was checking on something in the basement and would be right back. A surge of water overtook him and he wasn’t able to escape.-When he didn’t return, 911 was called to report him missing.
Police Emergency Service and scuba units quickly responded, but couldn’t access the home since there were live power lines in the water.-A search commenced as soon as the house was safe to enter. The officer’s body was located Tuesday in the basement, around 7 a.m., unconscious and unresponsive.-E.M.T.s pronounced him dead at the scene.
