Irvington Honors Police Officer Luigi Osso Jr.

Irvington Police Officer Luigi Osso Jr. has been through a lot since the early morning of April 21, 2010. He has survived severe head trauma, a torn aorta, crushed pelvis, a lacerated spleen, numerous other fractured bones, a two-month induced coma, 17 surgeries and hours of physical therapy.

Wednesday night, the Village of Irvington’s Board of Trustees, along with his family and a crowd of community emergency responders, celebrated his recovery and his official promotion to Detective. Osso was also awarded the Governor’s Certificate of Exceptional Valor on May 27.

“The past 58 weeks have truly been a never-ending parade of confusion, pain, heartache, depression, suffering,” Irvington Police Chief Michael P. Cerone said. “For every two successes, there has been a setback. To his great credit, he has met every challenge head on. Early on and shortly after regaining consciousness, he told me that he would be coming back to work. To this day, these words are music to my ears.”

Osso, along with other emergency responders, were honored during the Irvington Board of Trustees meeting for their service on the night of April 21, 2010. Osso was seriously injured that night when he responded to a high-speed car chase that was in progress.

The fleeing car was traveling between 60 and 100 miles when it hit a car on Route 9. That car then hit Osso’s squad car, pinning him between a utility box and a utility pole at the intersection of Main and Broadway.

Cerone praised every department and person who responded on to Osso’s accident and the crowded room of emergency responders gave each other standing ovations for their service and dedication.

“En route to Westchester Medical Center and especially during the first 72 hours at the hospital, it was feared that Officer Osso would succumb to his injuries,” Cerone said. “Only by the grace of God and the fine work of everyone involved and the support and prayers of a loving family did Officer Osso survive the initial days after the collision.”

Those who responded to the accident included the Irvington Volunteer Fire Department, Irvington Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Greenburgh ALS, Westchester Medical Center Trauma Unit and Irvington Police Department.

Irvington Mayor Brian Smith also praised those who responded on April 21, 2010, including Cerone. Smith and Cerone were at the annual Lions Club dinner when they learned of the accident.

“I think the most remarkable thing for me was the way the Chief kept our morale up,” he said. “I think that this whole village was down when it heard about what happened to Luigi. He’d only been here a few years, but he’d really made a big impact on all the residents and everyone knew him.”

Cerone credited Osso’s “sheer will to survive and his desire to return to work,” as well as Osso’s stubbornness, as the reason he has recovered so quickly.

“His words inspire me every day,” he said. “A lesser man, a lessor person could have just easily given up … not Police Officer Luigi Osso.”

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