NEW CITY, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — Two NYPD officers were recognized Tuesday for their work catching the person accused of carrying out a machete attack at a rabbi's house in Monsey during a Hanukkah celebration last month.
Officers Russell Mattera and David Radziwon were presented with a distinguished service award by the Rockland County Legislature.
"Picture yourself being told over the radio that there's a car in your command that is harboring a suspect in an attempted murder case and you now have to approach that car," Rockland County Executive Ed Day, a former detective commander, said. "This is something an officer will never acknowledge, the stress that goes on because your training kicks in, you do what you have to do and I want to acknowledge Officer Mattera and Officer Radziwon for their bravery and courage cause that's exactly what this is all about today."
Yosef Gluck fought with the attacker and ran after him to get his license plate, a critical piece of information that led to the swift apprehension of the suspect.
A license plate reader picked up the suspect vehicle on the George Washington Bridge and police in Harlem arrested 37-year-old Thomas Grafton. He had blood all over his clothing and smelled of bleach when officers stopped him, prosecutors said.
"Through your diligent police work you gave back the sense of safety to the Jewish community here in Rockland County," said County Legislator Aron Wieder. "We are forever grateful to you both."
The two officers insist they were just doing their job.
Thomas has pleaded not guilty to both state charges of attempted murder and other offenses as well as federal hate crime charges. A judge has ordered Thomas to undergo a state psychiatric evaluation.
Thomas may face the death penalty if one of his victims, Josef Neumann – who remains in “dire” condition in a coma – dies from his injures.
Investigators are also looking into whether Thomas is connected to another stabbing of an Orthodox Jewish man that occurred in Monsey about a month before the Hanukkah attack.