NYPD Officer Artur Kasprzak dies after saving family from Sandy-flooded house

NEW YORK Among the 22 people killed in New York City as a result of superstorm Sandy was an off-duty police officer who died after rescuing his family from floodwaters, CBS station WCBS-TV reports.

Officer Artur Kasprzak is seen in this undated picture provided by the New York Police Department Oct. 30, 2012.

/ New York Police Department

Officer Artur Kasprzak, 28, died Monday night in the basement of his home on Staten Island, the New York Police Department said in a release.

Around 7 p.m. ET, with floodwaters surging in his home, Kasprzak was able to get six members of his family, including two men, ages 69 and 31, three women, ages 31, 56 and 68, and a 15-month-old boy into his attic so they could safely escape rapidly rising water.

Kasprzak then told one of the women he rescued that he was going to check the basement but would be right back.

Around 7:23 p.m. one of the women called 911 to report the officer missing.

Personnel from the department's emergency service and scuba units immediately responded to the residence using boats and jet skis but couldn't get to the home because of electrified power lines in the water.

After the house was deemed safe to enter, a search ensued around 7 a.m. Tuesday. Kasprzak's body was found unconscious and unresponsive in the basement. Emergency medical technicians on scene pronounced him dead.

The medical examiner's office will determine the cause of death.

Kasprzak was assigned to a precinct in Manhattan and had 6 years on the job. Previously, he had served on a detective squad.

[anonymous123321]

what a great guy. He put everyone before himself. He didn't think twice. He's what everyone should aspire to become.

[Harley49dude]

GOD REST HIS SOUL !!

[Medicine918]

It's always terrible to read a name you recognize. My heart goes out to his family. I used to know them when younger and they were nice hard working people. No matter what the circumstances are, it's a tragedy.

[janeyre-2009]

If there is a fund started for this family. I will contribute. Something on PayPal, perhaps... Okay, anybody with the smarts, can you let us know about starting a fund, in the policeman's memory?

[Necroscope84]

He was also a police officer. In most emergencies police and hospital staff have to stay on to help the public. Maybe he didn't heed warnings because that is his job? Think before you write such ignorance.

[Necroscope84]

Brasileira2 Go somewhere else to Troll. Nobody needs that kind of talk here.

My sincere condolences to his family and friends. I'm not super religious or anything but do believe God has a special place set aside just for heroes. And this man was a hero. Anyone who helps others over his own needs is a hero and he will be remembered. My prayers are with you all.

Please people, do not run the should've, would've, could've routine. His family does not need that right now. What's done is done. Show some respect.

[Verascity]

Deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

[Jesus_to_ground_control]

Shut the power off before a major storm!

My condolences to NYPD Officer Artur Kasprza's family. It would seem that the courageous officer was possibly electrocuted by electrified power lines in the water. The emergency service and scuba units couldn't get to the home because of these downed power lines.

So what is the message here?

[rwsmith29456]

That is a very likely scenario. It's amazing how something so simple when things are normal becomes so dangerous when in a disaster situation. A week after we were hit by a large storm several linemen were electrocuted while making repairs because people hooked their generators into their house wiring without disconnecting from the main service.

[sepa2]

only if had heeded the evacuation orders

[obicera1]

And taken his family to their second or third home.

[jumkey]

Really? Is the only story of self-sacrifice by a NYPD officer one where he rescues his *own* family from flood waters? Because that's not self-sacrifice, that's *self-interest*.

Perhaps CBS News should stop rubbing the knob of the most corrupt police department in this country and start reporting on their illegal activities instead. Because when the water goes down they will go right on back to illegally spying on citizens, detaining them without reason, arresting them based on their ethnicity and beating and killing them.

[Forty-Four]

Did you not read the part where he was "off duty?"

[brasileira2]

Angry aren't you?...