News | Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

<STRONG><BIG>WOUNDED HERO COP SENT HOME FROM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL</BIG></STRONG>
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<B><font color="#990000">Odds Were against Officer Surviving Gunshot, Airlifted to Our Trauma Center</font></B>

<div class="caption">Police Officer Mark Collins is wheeled out of University Hospital by Dr. James A. Vosswinkel, just four days after life-threatening injury. (Photo from Office of Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone.)
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<p>STONY BROOK, NY, March 15, 2015 — Today, Suffolk County police officer Mark Collins who was critically wounded while pursuing a suspect in Huntington Station was discharged from Stony Brook University Hospital.</P>

<P>The 35-year-old officer, a member of the police department's gang unit, had been shot in the neck and hip following a traffic stop that led to a violent encounter. He was quickly airlifted to Stony Brook for emergency care.</P>

<P>"He is very lucky," says <a href="/surgery/people/faculty/dr-james-a-vosswinkel">James A. Vosswinkel, MD</a>, chief of trauma, emergency surgery, and surgical critical care, and medical director of the <a href="http://trauma.stonybrookmedicine.edu/" target="_blank">Stony Brook Trauma Center</a>. "The bullet came within an inch of vital structures in the officer’s neck, and although he did not require surgery, those injuries were potentially life-threatening."

<P>Officer Collins was discharged just four days after the shooting.</P>

<P>The hero cop made his way through a procession of more than 100 cheering fellow officers and other supporters in a wheelchair pushed by Dr. Vosswinkel. A bagpipe band played and two Suffolk police helicopters did a flyover.</P>

<div class="callout"><P><B>Dr. Vosswinkel says he is optimistic Officer Collins will make a full recovery.</B></P></div>

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<a href="http://medicine.stonybrookmedicine.edu/sdmpubfiles/vosswinkel-at-state-…; title="Dr. Vosswinkel was guest of honor at State of the County Address." class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" rel="gallery-all"><img src="/sdmpubfiles/styles/240/public/vosswinkel-at-state-of-county-address.jpg?itok=M97FLnV6" width="240" height="129" alt="Dr. Vosswinkel was guest of honor at State of the County Address." title="Dr. Vosswinkel was guest of honor at State of the County Address." class="image-240" /></a>
<br><div class="caption"><table width=240><tr><td>Dr. Vosswinkel was guest of honor at State of the County Address delivered on March 26.</td></tr></table>
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<P>Dr. Vosswinkel says he is optimistic Officer Collins will make a full recovery, but "he'll need extensive outpatient treatment and rehabilitation."</P>

<P>"He's an extremely strong person and the recovery that he made, not everybody could," adds Dr. Vosswinkel. "Having said that, we're not discharging him from our care."

<P>Suffolk Police Commissioner Edward Webber and County Executive Steve Bellone were among those who greeted Officer Collins, as was Nicholas Guerrero, the Suffolk officer injured in a hit and run in September (<a href="/surgery/blog/praise-for-stony-brook-trauma-center">read more</a>). The two offers had worked together at the Second Precinct.</P>

<P>"To be greeted by Nick Guerrero, who was grievously injured just a short time ago, is unbelievable, and just a great day for the Suffolk County Police Department, and everyone who cares about the work they do," Mr. Bellone told the news media.</P>

<P>Dr. Vosswinkel describes Officer Collins's demeanor as selfless: "He tried to downplay his injury. He says he's fine. He doesn't want to complain and keeps saying how grateful he is. He's got a terrific attitude."

<P>Lucky for the hero cop, he came to Stony Brook where his life was saved.</P>

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<B><font color="#990000">P.S.</font> On the occasion of the State of the County Address</B>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SteveBellone" target="_blank">Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone</a> recognized Dr. James A. Vosswinkel and our entire trauma team for their remarkable work and success in saving Officer Mark Collins's life.
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=804719792917258&set=vb.2989095…; target="_blank">See video</a>.
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From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TBRNewspapers" target="_blank">Times Beacon Record Newspapers</a>: "How could you not be inspired by someone like Suffolk County Police Department's Officer Mark Collins?" Dr. Vosswinkel says.<BR><BR>
"These guys are out there making it safe so something bad doesn't happen to us."
And, when something bad happens to them, the Stony Brook Trauma Center stands ready. <a href="http://bit.ly/1HWajJr" target="_blank">Read more</a>.
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<P><div class="pointer"><B><a href="http://trauma.stonybrookmedicine.edu/" target="_blank">Learn more about the Stony Brook Trauma Center</a>. Watch this video (48 sec) of Officer Collins leaving University Hospital:</B></div></P>