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On April 8, 2015, the chief was driving with his two daughters to a softball game, when they passed the Irvington Train Station. At the stop sign, he spotted a man and a woman arguing, and saw the man was holding a knife. Without concern for his own safety, he jumped out of his truck, grabbed a baseball bat and ran toward the couple. He was able to separate the two before police arrived to subdue the man and provide emergency assistance.
The female victim had been stabbed in the chest and neck, including in the jugular vein.
“Chief DePaoli is a brave and caring family man, who on this day, took action when he saw a need existed, without regard for his own safety,” said Stewart-Cousins. “His dedication to the Irvington Fire Department, where he’s been a volunteer for 24 years, and to the village, where he’s worked for 30 years and is the parks foreman, is also to be commended. He makes us proud to be New Yorkers.”
“I feel very undeserving of his honor,” said DePaoli. “That’s what firefighters do – they help.”
DePaoli traveled to Albany along with his family including his wife, Maureen; his daughters, Lara and Natasha; his mother and father, Lorraine and Tom; and his sister, Janet. Irvington Village Administrator Larry Schopfer was also in attendance.
DePaoli will receive a formal copy of the resolution.
To view the senator's remarks on the resolution, click here.
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