ROCHESTER, N.Y. — As we learn more about fallen Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz, we are hearing stories of his heroism.
One of those stories comes from his former partner.
“Why this location is special to me is this is where Tony saved my life,” said retired Rochester Police Officer Bill Finnerty. “We actually both got hurt in that incident. But we got the gun and we got the man and everything was safe.”
He and Officer Mazurkiewicz were partners on the job for more than six years – starting in Clinton Section then moving to the Tactical Unit.
The Tac Unit is comprised of officers potentially working the most dangerous jobs on the force. A Tac Unit job on North Clinton Avenue and Clifford Avenue two decades ago is where the partners were looking for a suspect.
“So we're on patrol, nighttime, a call comes in for a man with a gun at this location,” says Finnerty. “So we go up by the storefront, and the man comes out sees us and immediately goes to pull his gun and Tony grabs his gun hand and we just begin to struggle.”
The suspect was safely subdued.
“He really saved my life that night. He grabbed his gun first. Tony's quick reactions saved my life," said Finnerty, who believes he's alive today because of Mazurkiewicz's actions, “Yeah, yeah, because we didn't have our guns out. He had his gun already out in his hand. Yeah… And you know, I believe in God and I believe that God used Tony to save my life that night.”
Finnerty says Officer Mazurkiewicz was a man of faith and he believes a higher power was with him throughout his life personally and professionally, and he believes that that higher power remains with him in death.
“Scripture says He gave the ultimate price. He gave his life for strangers, if you will,” said Finnerty. “On that day, yes, he fought for my life. But every day he was willing to give his life for a stranger and he did.”
Officer Mazurkiewicz was up for retirement but chose to stay on the job – Finnerty said, to protect the innocent, “That's why he's a hero. That's why you didn't know his name until Thursday night. You didn't even know his name, but that's the thing, they're all saving lives by removing guns off the street. Removing felons off the street, and violent people off the street.
“Cops are saving lives and I can't even tell you how many he saved. And only God knows how many people should really be grateful for how many lives were saved because of the work of Tony Mazurkiewicz."
Anthony Mazurkiewicz’s former partner turns to his faith and offers words of comfort.
“We believe in eternal life. Tony believed in eternal life. I believe in eternal life and God knows. God knows,” said Finnerty. “Man might miss things that you do, maybe not giving credit where deserved, but God knows. God knows what Tony did. That's the peace that we have.”
Finnerty says it was a blessing and an honor to work and partner with Officer Mazurkiewicz.