NYPD Officer Peter Cybulski of Riverhead, who’s been cited for bravery for his role in an bomb scare incident in Times Square this summer, was among a group of police officers honored by the New York Jets before last night’s game.
Officers from New York and New Jersey were honored for acts of heroism in a pregame ceremony on the field.
“It was an amazing tribute to our first responders… and I couldn’t be more proud of him,” said his girlfriend, Brittany Rocco, who attended the game.
Cybulski, a 2009 Riverhead High School graduate, was on patrol July 20 in Times Square with his partner Sgt. Hameed Armani when a man pulled up beside their parked squad car, tossed a package into the car and zoomed away. A light on the package began to blink.
Believing the suspicious package to be a bomb, the two cops knew they had to get it out of the crowded Times Square as quickly as possible. Lights flashing and siren blaring, Armani sped off while Cybulski sat in the passenger seat with the package in his lap.
It was a terrifying ride. When they were a safe distance from the crowds, they pulled over, jumped out of the car and placed the package on the sidewalk for inspection.
It turned out to be an evil hoax. But their bravery was real. The two men were honored by the NYPD for their actions. In October, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone presented Cybulski with the Distinguished Medal of Service.
“It absolutely was an amazing night,” Rocco said. “It wasn’t the best game [the Jets lost to the Colts 41-10] but it most certainly was a day we’ll never forget.”
Katie Blasl contributed reporting.
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