Knife vs Badge; NYPD Officer's Life Saved

[JakeLock]

Source

Brings a little more respect for that little chunk of metal eh?

NEW YORK-- A rookie cop was "shielded" from death in Queens yesterday when his badge stopped a drunken maniac from plunging a knife into the officer's heart, authorities said.

The kitchen knife broke into five pieces as it hit the shield.

Officer Stuart Ingram, who joined the force just three months ago, suffered only cuts to his hand in the dramatic clash with crazed Joseph Leonardi, 50.

"When it happened, I was in shock," Ingram said.

Despite the force of the knife, there were no scratches on Ingram's NYPD shield. The nickel-alloy badges have been known to deflect a bullet.

"Thanks [to the badge manufacturer] for making it stronger than the knife," Ingram said.

Leonardi had earlier tried to run over a Catholic nun, cops said.

Sister Hannah Marie Cox, who works at St. Helen's Church in Howard Beach, was saved by a good Samaritan who pushed her out of the path of Leonardi's speeding car, police said.

Cops, including Ingram, were called after Leonardi crashed his car into a wall and then used his knife to menace a man who rushed to the scene, police said.

"When we got to the scene, [Leonardi] was going after the civilian. When I got there, he went after me," Ingram said.

The officer intervened by attempting to knock the blade out of Leonardi's hand with his baton.

But the drunken man lunged toward Ingram and tried to stab him in the chest, police said.

Ingram was treated and released last night from Jamaica Hospital.

The mayhem began at about 5 p.m. near St. Helen's Church on 83rd Street in Howard Beach.

An apparently intoxicated Leonardi was barreling the wrong way down the street before jumping the curb and driving onto the sidewalk, police said.

He narrowly missed a group of pedestrians, which included Cox.

Passer-by Juan Valez pushed her out of the speeding car's way.

Leonardi then sideswiped a parked car, hit a tree and crashed into a wall, police said.

He then got out of the wreck and allegedly swung his 10-inch knife at a group of five people who tried to hold him at bay.

Leonardi then fled down the block on foot, as a man from the group chased him nearly six blocks to the intersection of 159th Avenue and 83rd Streetm police said.

That's when Ingram and his sergeant arrived. Leonardi was knocked to the ground and cuffed.

He was charged with reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon, attempted murder and DWI.

"I guess [the badge] will have a little sentimental value now," Ingram said.

Republished with permission of The New York Post.

[Aussie George]

When I went through the Academy in SAPOL, some cops went to arrest a guy on a warrant. Two cops at the back door. Bad guy came out and stabbed one of the cops in the chest. His notebook took the first stab and before he got a second one, his partner shot the bad guy.

I have always carried my notebook over my heart since.

[Whitebear]

i am wearing a bullet proof vest and I have a trauma plate for that.....it is so light that I dont feel the difference

[CPDlife4ME]

That is one lucky dude! :eek:

[dirtysubie]

wow...just speechless on this one. This officer had somebody looking out for him in Higher place. By reading the story it sounds like the perp was on some serious drugs, like PCP.

[smcc360]

Cops, including Ingram, were called after Leonardi crashed his car into a wall and then used his knife to menace a man who rushed to the scene, police said.

"When we got to the scene, [Leonardi] was going after the civilian. When I got there, he went after me," Ingram said.

The officer intervened by attempting to knock the blade out of Leonardi's hand with his baton.

It baffles me that a police officer would attempt to counter a deadly force attack with a baton.

I'm glad PO Ingram's all right, but his FTO has some work to do.

[Joeyd6]

It baffles me that a police officer would attempt to counter a deadly force attack with a baton.

I'm glad PO Ingram's all right, but his FTO has some work to do.

Bingo!

Somebody needs a lesson in the use of force! Knife = gun.

Congrats and the collar and being a live.......but he should have been firing rounds, not swinging a baton!

[nypd7748]

Bingo!

Somebody needs a lesson in the use of force! Knife = gun.

Congrats and the collar and being a live.......but he should have been firing rounds, not swinging a baton!

It's okay he went to the FDNY now. :cool:

[JakeLock]

It's okay he went to the FDNY now. :cool:

Seriously? 3 months on the job, one close call and he high tails it?

[christrue]

By my (distant) Ancestor's Badge! :eek:

(P.S. On only my Mother's side of the family...!)


I am truly grateful that Officer S Ingram is alive



I cannot imagine ... just walking away from a Badge

[RemyG]

guess he returned his ticket to the greatest show on earth, eh nypd? :D

[phantasm]

Seriously? 3 months on the job, one close call and he high tails it?

4 years ahead in a contract with 3%, 3.15%, 4%, 4% above current top pay of NYPD, 8 appearances or so/month, better quality of life, and family legacy in FDNY.

[JakeLock]

4 years ahead in a contract with 3%, 3.15%, 4%, 4% above current top pay of NYPD, 8 appearances or so/month, better quality of life, and family legacy in FDNY.

Well I guess I understand the family legacy thing then, he must've been the black sheep for a while eh?

I'm still glad he's alive regardless of which job he's doing.

[nypd7748]

guess he returned his ticket to the greatest show on earth, eh nypd? :D

Yup, now he is pledging for the frat known as the FDNY

[CCBlueMan]

That is one lucky dude! :eek:

That is amazing!