Patient Testimonial: Officer Honored for Courageous Action

‘Just a Normal Day'

Metropolitan Police Department Officer Brian Bobick remembers December 13, 2007 starting off as a normal day. With his partner, Officer Mike Architzel, Bobick left the Subway shop where they had stopped for lunch. On their normal route through Eastland Gardens, they stopped briefly to say hello to a woman and a little girl. Bobick remembers seeing a black Cadillac, hearing tires spin and then, blackness.

‘Your Instincts as a Cop takeover'

Witnesses saw what Bobick did not, a heroic act. Pushing Architzel out of the way of the oncoming Cadillac, Bobick was hit by the car . 'I don't remember pushing him out of the way, but your instincts as a cop take over. We are trained for that, and ready for it.'

Driven by a teenager who was angry at Architzel for past encounters, the car hit Bobick and crushed the bones in his face. He awoke in a pool of blood. 'All I remember is the blood and seeing my teeth. I had no idea what happened, and the next thing I knew I was in the hospital.'

‘I will never forget that night'

'I will never forget that night. The Hospital Center was flooded with support; it seemed like every cop was there,' remembers Bonnie Arroyo, DDS, an oral surgery resident. Dr. Arroyo was paged to the Emergency Room, and immediately rushed to evaluate Bobick for severe facial injuries. 'He had an open mandible fracture, and his trigeminal nerve was ripped away and stretched to no end. His injuries were very serious.'

‘A sense of doom'

Bobick's injuries were so severe, it was impossible for him to talk. A devout Catholic, Bobick remembers a feeling of doom and the sense that he was going to die. The Hospital Center staff understood that he wanted a priest after Bobick drew a cross on a piece of paper. Together, Bobick and the priest prayed, while hundreds of officers stood in the hospital to offer their support.

‘Several surgeries were needed to complete the reconstruction'

George Obeid, DDS, chairman, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, performed the necessary surgeries on Bobick's jaws, cheeks and gums. His jaw had been amputated by the crash, and seven teeth were knocked loose. Bobick also suffered several fractures in his skull and facial area, and required three plates were to correct the fractures. Bobick has also had two other surgeries to repair his gums and prepare his jaw for replacement teeth.

‘Everyone was great'

Bobick stayed in the hospital for ten days, and developed close, personal relationships with several of his caregivers. 'Dr. Obeid is a great guy,' he says, 'His confidence was so great and his work has been so exceptional. I credit my looks to him.' Dr. Arroyo (remembers him as a model patient, but one who was nervous that he was going to do something to inhibit his healing. 'In the time that he was here, we developed a nice friendship, and I've continued to follow his progress,' she added.

Bobick believes his nurse in the ICU, David Want, went above and beyond the call of duty. 'He was great, just amazing. The encouragement he gave me, his personal faith was just amazing, and based on his faith and the encouragement I got from him, I felt stronger. Once I got out of the ICU, he would come during his breaks and before his shift to visit me and give me encouragement.' Father Dominic, the Catholic Chaplain, is another hospital staff member who Bobick credits with making his time in the hospital easier.

‘2007 Officer of the Year'

Bobick was honored at the 3rd Annual Law Enforcement Awards Luncheon as 2007 Officer of the Year. 'It's an honor to just to be alive and to know that my partner is unharmed. Other stuff can't compare to that,' says Bobick. 'Our relationship is the same; we were friends on and off duty.'

As for his continued recovery, Bobick is awaiting the surgeries to replace his teeth, adding, 'I appreciate everyone at the hospital. Without them, I wouldn't be the way I am.'

Bobick intends to return to work shortly on light duty. He still wants to serve, adding, 'I'm the son of a police officer, and it's in my blood. I like being on the street.'