Greater Mineola coverage is funded in part by The Farm Italy, a striking neighborhood restaurant and cocktail bar bringing the simplicity, beauty and seasonal freshness of Italian dining to Westbury.
A soccer referee who collapsed during a junior varsity game in St. James last month had a simple message for the two off-duty Nassau County police officers who helped save his life.
“I’m very grateful and I can say they are my heroes,” said Vito Cassara of Bay Shore. “Without them, I’m not here.”
Officer Brian Sujka and Sgt. Frederick Tifaro were honored Monday at the Nassau County Legislature in Mineola, where they received the Nassau Police Benevolent Association’s Legislative Top Cops recognition for October.
The officers were watching their daughters play for East Islip against Smithtown High School East on Sept. 16 when Cassara, 64, suddenly collapsed.
“All I remember is falling over, and then nothing else,” Cassara said. “Thankfully they knew what to do.”
Sujka and Tifaro joined others who rushed to Cassara’s side, performing CPR and using an automated external defibrillator, or AED, to deliver a shock. They helped stabilize him until paramedics arrived.
“We saw someone that needed help and we went to help them,” Sujka said. “Luckily they had the right equipment there. We got the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) within a minute and we were able to utilize our training.”
Cassara was taken to a hospital and has since made a full recovery.
James Springer, financial secretary of the Nassau PBA, said the incident showed that an officer’s commitment to helping others extends beyond the hours spent on duty.
“When the uniform comes off, the job doesn’t end,” Springer said. “We’re police officers 24 hours, seven days a week.”
For Sujka, the most meaningful part of Monday’s recognition was seeing Cassara again.
“It’s great to see him here standing with us today,” he said.
Sgt. Frederick Tifaro, left, Vito Cassara and Officer Brian Sujka at Monday’s ceremony at the Nassau County Legislature in Mineola. The officers were honored for helping save Cassara’s life after he collapsed while refereeing a soccer game in St. James. (Credit: GLI/Andrew Rappaport)
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