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The Honda Civic was more than half-submerged in roughly eight feet of water behind Borough Hall as Officer Thomas Russo came running with Englewood Cliffs Officer Mark Krapels, the son of Norwood Police Chief Jeff Krapels.
“She opened the door, fell and went under,” said Russo, who’d already waded in up to his waist. “So I went in after her.”
“It definitely wasn’t the kind of dive you see in the movies,” he told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “There wasn’t time to do anything but jump.
“I got her to the surface, then moved us a few feet so I could grab Mark’s arm,” Russo said. “He pulled me and I pulled her and we got her out.”
EMS workers tended to the woman, who lives in Woodland Park and works in Rockleigh. She declined further medical attention, Russo said.
“She was fine at first. Then, after about 10 minutes she tried to thank me and started crying,” he said. “She was upset over the whole situation and over losing her car.”
A family member picked her up soon after.
“Things like that happen so fast,” the elder Krapels told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “I’m thrilled that the woman, my officer and my son are OK.”
Russo, meanwhile, returned to headquarters, put on a dry uniform, and went back to work.
This was just hours after he had lunch with Capt. Perry Buongiorno — a 30-year veteran himself — and Officer Domenick Ghione, who has one year under his belt. They were celebrating Russo’s 28 years as a police officer (see photo, below).
Russo was with the Hudson County Police from 1987 to 1996, when the department was disbanded. He joined the Palisades Interstate Parkway police for five years before coming to Norwood.
“It was a crazy day all around with the storm,” he said. “Streets were flooded everywhere. I saw at least 10 abandoned cars all around the area.”
Moments later, the young Krapels spotted the Civic.
- PHOTOS: Courtesy NORWOOD POLICE CHIEF JEFFREY KRAPELS, OFFICER THOMAS RUSSO (except for top inset: Courtesy MIKE FLOOD)
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