By Thomas Tracy
New York Daily News
NEW YORK 鈥� A new FDNY medal honoring a murdered EMS officer Alison Russo will be awarded Wednesday to a longtime co-worker who from his post at a 911 dispatch office desperately worked to save her life the Daily News has learned.
EMS Captain Edgar Baez was monitoring his team at the FDNY鈥檚 Public Safety Answering Center 2 in the Bronx on the afternoon of Sept. 29 when several 911 calls coming out of Astoria, Queens, flashed on his screen in rapid succession.
One read 鈥淐ode 34K鈥� meaning . The next alert almost made his heart stop: 鈥淔irefighter stabbed.鈥�
Baez immediately had his team alert all available units and supervisors, asking them to race to the scene. He also reached out to the FDNY鈥檚 Fire Department Operations Center and helped to organize a massive mobile response in a matter of seconds.
It quickly became clear that it wasn鈥檛 a firefighter who was stabbed. It was EMS Lt. Alison Russo, of EMS Station 49 who a maniac in a grisly, unprovoked attack.
鈥淚t came over as a stabbing of a firefighter, maybe an officer, but FDNY officers and EMS officers pretty much wear the same uniform,鈥� Baez recalled. 鈥淲hen the first EMS units arrived, they recognized her as the officer from (Station 49). The crew that discovered her... she had issued them their equipment just moments before.鈥�
Russo was treated almost immediately, but her wounds were too great. She died at Mount Sinai Medical Center-Queens. At her funeral,
The rapid response, thanks to Baez and his team, was crucial in getting help for Russo. It also helped first responders lock down the area and capture Peter Zisopoulis, who was charged in Russo鈥檚 murder.
Russo and Baez used to race to emergency calls together from Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx more than two decades ago.
鈥淪he started a year after I did,鈥� Baez recalled. Even as both EMTs became officers, they kept in touch and would run into each other in the field.
The two will be forever linked Wednesday when Baez becomes the first recipient of the FDNY鈥檚 鈥淐aptain Alison Russo North Star Medal鈥� during the FDNY鈥檚 Medal Day ceremony at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Corona, Queens.
The special award 鈥渞ecognizes an FDNY EMS officer who, in the performance of duty, performs an act of distinguished bravery and stamina under adverse or extreme conditions,鈥� FDNY officials said, adding that Baez鈥檚 鈥�26 years of experience and dedication served the department incredibly well on this call.
鈥淗e is known for his hands-on leadership style,鈥� the FDNY noted.
鈥淚n this case, his instincts, knowledge and extensive experience as an officer who leads from in front were greatly appreciated.鈥�
Baez, 48, was surprised to learn that he would be the first recipient of the Russo award.
鈥淚 was wondering, 鈥榃hy me?鈥欌�� he remembered. 鈥淚 was working that day, but everything that occurs happens as part of a team at dispatch.鈥�
Baez remembered getting quite emotional when he was told he was going to be honored this way.
鈥淢any people tell me it鈥檚 well deserved, but I didn鈥檛 do it alone,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I guess me knowing her personally and with what happened 鈥� it was just hard to accept.鈥�
Yet he will proudly accept the award in honor of Russo and the team he worked with that fateful day, he said.
If Russo knew there would be an award in her honor, she likely would have rolled her eyes, Baez said.
鈥淪he鈥檇 be like, 鈥楢re you serious?鈥欌�� Baez joked. 鈥淏ut she worked in the field and for the good of the crew she put out every day.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the role of an officer,鈥� he said. 鈥淭o make sure everything is OK and safe for your members.鈥�
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