Veteran Gates Police Officer Lance Duffy drove himself to the hospital Tuesday night after realizing he was suffering a heart attack.
Gates Police Chief James Vanbrederode said via Twitter that “in classic form, Officer Duffy drove himself to Strong Memorial Hospital last night at about 10:00 p.m. after refereeing Hockey game and feeling ill.”
The officer, who was off duty, pulled up at the front door to the Emergency Department when his heart stopped. First responders had to smash his car window to pull him out. They administered CPR and had to shock his heart to stabilize him, then sent him to surgery.
Officer Duffy is being kept in a medically-induced coma for 36 hours before awakening. The chief says doctors are optimistic he avoided brain damage because of the quick response. He’s asking that Officer Duffy be kept in everyone’s thoughts and prayers.
Duffy is the department spokesman and has been with Gates Police for more than 30 years.