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Officer Christopher Racioppo of the Suffolk County PD, who has been at Stony Brook University Hospital since the incident took place on Saturday, April 10 in Patchogue, left the hospital around noon on Monday, April 26.
Hundreds of well-wishers were on hand to watch as Racioppo, who almost bled to death following the attack, made his way home.
The stabbing took place after Racioppo saw a Mercedes-Benz driving erratically without its headlights on, according to Suffolk Police.
When he attempted to stop the car, the driver, identified as Joseph Nunez, 25, of Centereach, crashed into a 2004 Nissan and then attempted to flee the scene.
Racioppo gave chase and when he caught Nunez, a struggle ensued and Nunez allegedly stabbed the officer in the leg, severing a femoral artery, causing the officer to almost bleed to death.
Other officers and Good Samaritans -- including a retired Marine and a retired NYPD officer -- came to his aid and a decision was made to drive Racioppo in a patrol car to the hospital because he was "bleeding to death," officials said on Monday, April 12.
His supervisor, Suffolk police Sgt. Frank Sanmartino drove the vehicle to Stony Brook University Hospital: "At one point in the vehicle, we thought we had lost Officer Racioppo," Sanmartino said.
After his discharge, doctors said Racioppo will need a lot of rehab before being able to return to work.
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