This week on Facebook, NYPD remembered the 29th anniversary of the death of two hero police officers, Christopher Hoban and Michael Buczek.  As Deputy Chief Surgeon at the time, I responded to both separate incidents at St. Lukes Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, both in Manhattan.    Both officers were lost to gunshot wounds.

Read the details and a full description of the events of that devastating night in my book, Life on the Thin Blue Line . The loss of the two cops in one night is not only remembered by scholarships and little league, but more importantly, by every cop who wears a bullet-proof vest and every life saved.

Because of the overwhelming tragedy, a new approach to police protection was initiated that night. My suggestion, supported by Deputy Commissioner Condon, was that the department provide bullet-proof vests.   This event  changed the department.

It’s important to remember that before that night, bullet-proof vest were optional, and not issued by the NYPD.

Here’s the story of latest cop saved by his vest…