Police Officer Honored for Saving Citizen's Life

It was March 2, and 69-year-old Hobokenite Mo DeGennaro was sitting at home with his wife Janet. Janet briefly left the room, but when she returned she found her husband of 38 years in bad shape. 

"I had double pneumonia," said DeGennaro Wednesday night. "I had no idea I was sick."

And if it weren't for Hoboken patrolman Bret Globke, who responded to the call and realized that DeGennaro was in acute need of help, this story would not have had a happy ending. 

DeGennaro is a loyal frequenter of city council meetings, and has been for the past decades. He is known to yell at Council members when he doesn't agree, but gives credit where credit is due. And although he said he'll keep criticizing the city as well as the police department, that doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate what the officers do on a daily basis. 

Union City ambulance volunteers also responded to the call, but Globke, 32, took charge. DeGennaro said that Globke has said "give this guy oxygen," to prevent DeGenarro from falling into a coma. 

"If this guy didn't come in  and take charge..." DeGennaro said, not finishing the sentence. When asked if Globke saved his life, DeGenarro answered: "absolutely."

During Wednesday night's city council meeting, Globke was given an achievement award by DeGennaro. "He had to be singled out," DeGennaro said. 

Globke, who has been on the force for 2,5 years, said that he was just doing his job. "I did for Mo what I would have done for anybody in this room," he said. Adding, "I'm glad I made a difference in his life."

Globke said he has had Emergency Medical Training, which helped him respond to the situation appropriately. 

Police Chief Anthony Falco also attended the meeting to praise Globke and the work the police officers do. "To receive praise from the citizen," Falco said, "that's the pinnacle."

Globke agreed.

"We don't get thank yous like this very often," he said, "it's very nice."