The family of a police officer who sacrificed his life during Hurricane Sandy will receive tens of thousands of dollars from a disaster relief nonprofit today.
The New York Police Disaster Relief Fund will give $50,000 to the family of Officer Artur Kasprzak, who shepherded six family members to safety at his Staten Island home, but got caught in the flood waters in his basement while looking for another person.
The award will be given at his parent’s home Sunnyside home this afternoon in advance of the six-month anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged New York City on October 29.
Kasprzak served in the 1st precinct, and had been on the job for six years.
Five police unions, including the Captains’ Endowment Association and the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, started the fund to provide relief for uniformed NYPD members, as well as other police officers in New York State.
Many cops lost their homes in the storm, and suffered other property damage.
Almost a thousand awards have been given to cops so far through donations from the public.