OLD WESTBURY, New York — Three Old Westbury police officers reunited with a man they revived after cardiac arrest and then learned the New York Jets will honor them at an upcoming first-responder recognition game, according to Long Island Press.
The local report identified the officers as Officer John Kassebaum, Officer Michael Avelin and Detective Michael Brown. It said they responded after Phillip Amico suffered cardiac arrest at the Old Westbury Diner in March.
CPR and a defibrillator restored breathing
According to Long Island Press, diner employees called 911 after Amico became unresponsive during breakfast. Officers found him without a pulse and not breathing, then began CPR and used a defibrillator.
The report said body-camera footage showed officers lowering Amico to the floor, starting CPR and setting up the defibrillator. After several minutes, Amico began breathing again and later regained consciousness.
“I can’t thank them enough. I’m here with my family because of their quick reaction and their knowledge of CPR,” Amico told Long Island Press. “I was literally dead. I had no pulse. They brought me back and I’m here because of them.”
Jets invitation turned reunion into a first-responder honor
Old Westbury Police Chief Stuart Cameron described the recovery as miraculous, according to the report. During the June 24 reunion, Steven Castleton, the New York Jets’ military and first-responder liaison, surprised Kassebaum, Avelin and Brown with invitations to the team’s annual First Responders recognition game against the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 25.
Long Island Press reported that the officers are expected to join other first responders on the field during the national anthem and help hold the American flag.
For Support Law Enforcement readers, the Old Westbury case is another reminder that routine patrol calls can become medical emergencies in seconds — and that CPR, AED access and calm teamwork can give a family more time together.
Sources reviewed
- Long Island Press: Old Westbury police officers honored by New York Jets for saving life
- Long Island Press / Jerry Shi source photo used for the featured image
Editorial note: ThinBlueNews relied on source-backed local reporting, used a real local-news source photo with attribution, and kept medical details limited to what was publicly reported. No fake rescue imagery, paid promotion, DMs or outbound messages were used.