Twinsburgbulletin.com

Twinsburg sergeant's son honored for heroism

May 8, 2008

by Andre Clayton

Reporter

Twinsburg -- Washington, D.C., Police Officer Brian Bobick, the son of Twinsburg Police Sgt. Ray Bobick, will be recognized for his December 2007 act of heroism during which he was seriously injured after pushing his partner out of the path of a stolen car.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., announced Brian as its Officer of the Month for March, and will recognize him during a May 2009 ceremony in the nation's capital during National Police Week.

According to reports, on the afternoon of Dec. 13, 2007, Brian and his partner, both on bicycle patrol, stopped at an intersection as a stolen car sped toward them. Brian pushed his partner out of the way and was struck by the car.

The impact broke his nose and all the bones in his face, knocked out seven of his teeth and fractured his eye socket, his father said.

After the incident happened, Ray said the Washington, D.C., Police Department contacted him by telephone.

"I was upset," Ray said. "As a police officer, you always have something like this in the back of your mind, but you never think it will happen to you or a loved one."

Brian spent the rest of December in a hospital, before being released the next month, Ray said.

Brian, who resides in Washington, D.C., has not been back to work since the incident because he is undergoing physical therapy, Ray added.

Ray, who has been a Twinsburg police officer for 29 years, said he feels fortunate to have received only minor injuries while on duty..

"I ... hurt my knee while trying to break up a fight, and broke a finger while trying to make an arrest," Ray said.

The juvenile suspect, who was 15 at the time and driving the vehicle that struck Brian, was arrested and is "being held at a juvenile detention center until he is 18," Ray said.

Ray said he is proud of his son for putting his life on the line for another officer.

"He is a good cop and deserves the award," Ray said.

E-mail: aclayton@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3172