On Christmas Day, most Suffolk residents were sleeping in, celebrating the holiday with family, heading to church, or preparing to host.
For eight-year-old Tayvion, of East Patchogue, it was a far more eventful holiday.
Three Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) officers rushed to a call to find Tayvion stranded in frigid, chest-deep water in the middle of a manmade pond in the Heatherwood Lakeside Village Apartments.
Police body camera footage shows officers James Rizzo and Andrew Tirelli asking the boy his name and tossing him a buoy. When Tayvion could not reach the buoy, Sergeant Michael Santillo crawled out onto the ice to reach the boy. As Santillo slid up to a nearly submerged Tayvion, the boy can be heard shouting “Freedom!” as he saw his rescuer close in.
Tayvion was taken to NYU Langone Suffolk for medical assessment but made it home in time for Christmas.
The officers were honored for their life-saving actions at Police Headquarters in Yaphank on January 2. Tayvion was also there to be reunited with his saviors and to relay a crucial message to the public.
“Don’t go out onto the ice!” declared Tayvion.
Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) Commissioner Kevin Catalina said that the icy conditions made it “difficult, if not impossible” for Tayvion to lift himself out.
“I want to thank Officers Rizzo and Tirelli and Sergeant Santillo for their quick and courageous response, especially on a holiday. Their actions ensured that the situation was handled safely and efficiently,” said Catalina.
Catalina urged the public to stay off of frozen ponds and to skate at ice rinks. Santillo, after rescuing Tayvion from the frozen pond, used a blanket to cover his cruiser seat, drove home, showered, changed clothes, and went back out on patrol.
The officers were modest in reception of their accolades, simply stating that the events of Christmas Day in East Patchogue are part and parcel to the job.
“You don’t think; you act,” said Santillo. “You go in the burning building, get in the water, try to help people.”
