Crime & Safety
Officer Injured During Sandy Hopes to be Back on Duty Soon
Bob Franco nearly died when the vehicle he was in was nearly crushed by trees during superstorm Sandy last fall.
Officer Bob Franco may be back on light duty with the Wayne Police Department by the end of the summer.
Franco was nearly killed when a tree fell on the vehicle he was in during the night of superstorm Sandy. Capt. Mark McGrath immediately went to help Franco, a longtime friend. McGrath loosened Franco’s bulletproof vest, allowing him to breathe.
Franco was initially immobilized and underwent seven hours of surgery after the accident. He has steadily recovered.
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“It’s a progression, trying to get back to where I was before I was hurt,” Franco said. “It was my hope to get back as soon as I could. I can’t say I had a definite timeline. I just wanted to get back.”
Chief John Reardon said he hopes Reardon will be back on light duty and working on a desk by the end of the summer.
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Reardon said that Franco is “an inspiration” to the entire department.
“As far as being back on full duty, that’s going to depend on my continued progress,” said Franco, a father of three children.
Businesses and residents have raised thousands of dollars for Franco and his family since the accident.
Several local businesses, including Farms View and Da Vinci Ristorante, donated a portion of their sales to Franco’s family last year. The Wayne UNICO club sold Poinsettias.
A few Wayne residents organized a charity marathon and fun run last fall.
Kevin Hughes, a Wayne Valley High School student, sold candy canes at school.
Several of Franco’s co-workers donated money during the various fundraisers.
“The term ‘brother’ is thrown around very liberally around police, firemen, and the military, but you never really get a sense of what the term truly means until you come into a situation like this,” Franco said. “You see how well everyone takes care of you. It gives a whole new meaning to the term.”
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