Nassau police officers honored for water rescue in Baldwin

Nassau County legislators on Monday honored Nassau police officers who rescued a woman who was caught in strong currents in water behind her home in Baldwin.

Nassau police said they made the rescue on Feb. 8 at 12:10 p.m., after arriving for a welfare check at the home of the 29-year-old woman.

The honored officers who won the legislature's "Top Cop" of the month honor were Richard Fosbeck, Kenneth Pettersen, and Zach Benigno.

When the officers arrived, the woman jumped into the water in the back of her home, and the current pulled her away from shore, police said.

Nassau Police Benevolent Association president James McDermott said the victim was threatening to jump off a dock into frigid waters when police arrived, and later went into shock and could not grab a flotation device tossed into the waters by the police officers.

Officers who jumped in could not safely reach the woman. The officers found a nearby rowboat in a neighbor's yard and were able to rescue the woman, who was about 75 feet from shore.

McDermott cited the officers' "vigilance, bravery and quick thinking." 

With help from the Nassau Police Marine Bureau, the woman was returned to shore and treated at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside for hypothermia, police said. McDermott said she has made a full recovery.

By Scott Eidler

scott.eidler@newsday.com@ScottEidler

Scott Eidler is a deputy editor for the towns department at Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.