The Office of Staten Island Borough President
09/09/2025 | Press release | Archived content
Borough President Vito Fossella Honors Hero Police Officers For Life-Saving Rescue
Borough President Vito Fossella honored two swift-thinking police officers, including one from Staten Island, for their heroics in saving two sleeping brothers and their dog when their home caught on fire in Coney Island.
He was joined by Deputy Chief Michael Glynn, commanding officer of the NYPD Quality of Life Division, and District Attorney Michael McMahon, along with the families of the two officers during a small gathering in his office.
Police Officer Christopher De Sciora, a resident of Tottenville, and Police Officer Andy Guo, members of the 60th Precinct's Quality of Life Team, responded to reports of a house fire within the vicinity of Canal Avenue and West 36th Street in Brooklyn on the morning of Aug. 10. The front door to the home was locked, but the partners heard a dog barking inside.
"I don't know if it's in the rule book, if it's in the training manual, or perhaps it's good instinct and good fortune that you were there to save lives," said Borough President Fossella. "There is a family out there that is alive, there is a dog that is alive because you guys were there and responded the way you did. It's magic and it's appreciated."
The officers encountered a lot of smoke and initially thought the fire was in the neighbor's yard, but he directed them to the house next door. Bodycam footage, posted to the NYPD's Facebook page, shows them mounting a chair to climb the fence, smashing open a glass door, and immediately calling out to the residents to alert them to the fire.
They quickly escorted the brothers, and their dog, Sherlock, to safety.
We thank Police Officer De Sciora and Police Officer Guo for their service to the NYPD and their commitment to keeping the residents of our city safe.
He was joined by Deputy Chief Michael Glynn, commanding officer of the NYPD Quality of Life Division, and District Attorney Michael McMahon, along with the families of the two officers during a small gathering in his office.
Police Officer Christopher De Sciora, a resident of Tottenville, and Police Officer Andy Guo, members of the 60th Precinct's Quality of Life Team, responded to reports of a house fire within the vicinity of Canal Avenue and West 36th Street in Brooklyn on the morning of Aug. 10. The front door to the home was locked, but the partners heard a dog barking inside.
"I don't know if it's in the rule book, if it's in the training manual, or perhaps it's good instinct and good fortune that you were there to save lives," said Borough President Fossella. "There is a family out there that is alive, there is a dog that is alive because you guys were there and responded the way you did. It's magic and it's appreciated."
The officers encountered a lot of smoke and initially thought the fire was in the neighbor's yard, but he directed them to the house next door. Bodycam footage, posted to the NYPD's Facebook page, shows them mounting a chair to climb the fence, smashing open a glass door, and immediately calling out to the residents to alert them to the fire.
They quickly escorted the brothers, and their dog, Sherlock, to safety.
We thank Police Officer De Sciora and Police Officer Guo for their service to the NYPD and their commitment to keeping the residents of our city safe.
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