Jogger Rescued From Mud Reunites With Suffolk Officers

HAUPPAUGE, NY — The Suffolk County police sergeant and officer who rescued a jogger who had been stuck in chest-high mud at a former lake in Smithtown were honored on Wednesday, the department announced.

Sgt. Katherine Kuzminski and officer Richard Esposito rescued the jogger, Kyle Prato, and his Austrian Shepherd, Stryker, at Blydenburgh County Park on Jan. 30. Kuzminski and Esposito were honored by Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina.

Prato, 24, of Medford, called 911 at 12:10 p.m. Jan. 30 report he was stuck in mud up to his chest at a former lake, police said. Stryker had wandered onto the mud, and as Prato was attempting to retrieve Stryker, Prato began to sink.

Aviation officers located Prato and hovered over the area until the officers on the ground reached him and rescued him and his dog.