They receive Combat Cross for stopping a fleeing gunman
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
By JEFF HARRELL
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- They protected and served the city by stopping a fleeing gunman whose bullet barely missed striking an officer.
For their efforts, Detective Alexander Grandstaff, 32, of New Dorp, and Detective Herbert Martin, 40, of Grant City, were among 28 current and former police officers to receive the Police Combat Cross, the NYPD's second-highest honor, during yesterday's Medal Day award ceremony at Police Plaza in Manhattan.
"Just working with my buddy," said Martin, who has partnered with Grandstaff for the past 10 years in three separate precincts.
Martin and Grandstaff, now assigned to Brooklyn's 81st Precinct, were in plainclothes out of Patrol Borough Brooklyn North's Anti-Crime Unit with two other officers on Feb. 24, 2006, when they saw a gun change hands.
The officers got out of their car and identified themselves; the two suspects took to their heels.
Grandstaff immediately grabbed the unarmed man, while Martin and the other members of the team split up and chased the gunman on foot and in the car.
As Grandstaff steered his prisoner to the end of the block, the armed suspect led the other officers into a restaurant parking lot, where Martin tried to corner him with the police vehicle.
The chase headed back toward Grandstaff, who released the unarmed suspect and took up the pursuit of the gunman. The gunman then turned back and fired at Martin, now on foot. Martin rolled to the ground and heard a bullet whistle past his ear.
The officers eventually nabbed the gunman. Later, Martin found a bullet hole in his sweatshirt.
The gunman is serving a seven-year prison term.
The NYPD's highest honor, the Medal of Honor, was awarded to Detective Angel Cruz Jr. of Transit District 33.
Cruz subdued a man who had punched him and stabbed him in the head with a large hunting knife during a confrontation in the subway. Despite grave injuries, the detective was able to hold his attacker and stay conscious until backup arrived.
NYPD posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal to the families of 10 police officers who died of illness consequent to their work at Ground Zero and the former Fresh Kills landfill. Among those honored was Sgt. Edward D. Thompson, formerly of the North Shore's 120th Precinct; he died March 9, 2008.
Retired Sgt. Craig Melfi, also formerly assigned to the 120th Precinct, was awarded the Police Combat Cross, along with three fellow officers. Melfi aided Officer Andrew Suarez of the 78th Precinct by returning fire toward a gunman who had shot Suarez in the back in February 2007.
"This is always the proudest day of the year for the NYPD," Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said. "It takes nothing away from any of the officers we salute to also say this entire department deserves our thanks for keeping us the nation's safest large city."
Jeff Harrell covers courts for the Advance. He may be reached at harrell@siadvance.com.
