New York Police Officer/Paramedic Saves Cardiac Victim

A Centerport man who suffered a cardiac arrest early yesterday in a Hauppauge office was saved by a Suffolk County police officer who used a defibrillator to restart his heart, police said.

Police were called to the fourth floor of an office building at 350 Motor Parkway about 8:50 a.m., where a man was reported suffering from chest pains.

Sgt. Vincent Massaro said that when he arrived, Fourth Precinct Officer Theodore La Monica, a paramedic, was already there. Lawrence Fleishman, 53, was lying on an office couch in obvious distress, he said.

La Monica, 32, was taking Fleishman's vital signs when "right in front of us, the guy went into cardiac arrest," Massaro said.

La Monica hooked Fleishman up to a portable defibrillator and got Fleishman's heart beating, Massaro said.

Central Islip/Hauppauge Ambulance company volunteers arrived and took Fleishman by ambulance to St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown, where he was admitted in stable condition, police said.

Fleishman's wife, Joan, said last night, "He was amazing. ... He saved my husband's life. I'm forever grateful."

"Teddy [La Monica] is really good at what he does," Massaro said." He deserves the credit. ... There's no doubt in my mind."

La Monica could not be reached for comment yesterday.

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