KIPS BAY — More than 100 uniformed officers gathered at Bellevue Hospital Center Friday to applaud the off-duty detective who stopped a man wielding an 11-inch meat cleaver outside Penn Station from escaping police.
Detective Brian O’Donnell sustained a six-inch cut to his face and several broken bones in his left hand when he stopped 32-year-old Akram Joudeh from fleeing officers that pursued him down West 32nd Street around 5 p.m. on Thursday, police said.
Joudeh was shot by police several times and both he and O’Donnell were transported to Bellevue, police said. Joudeh was in critical condition and O'Donnell in serious condition at the time.
Two other officers sustained non-life threatening injuries during the attack, police said.
A bullet grazed police officer Nicholas Mazzola's right flank and officer Nelson Tejada sustained unknown injuries, according to sources.
When O’Donnell left Bellevue in a wheelchair on Friday at 1 p.m., he was escorted by his family and greeted by a long line of cheering police officers waiting to pay their respects.
“I think he did a great service to the people of this city and his bravery is amazing,” Detectives Endowment Association President Michael Palladino said of O’Donnell.
"With a complete disregard to his own health and his safety he engaged this guy.”
O’Donnell will be reevaluated to assess whether he sustained nerve damage and if he will need further surgery in the upcoming weeks, Palladino said.
Palladino spoke with O’Donnell before his release and described his spirits and speedy release as “remarkable.”
"It's an indication how tough a guy he really is."
Joudeh remained in serious condition at Bellevue Hospital as of Friday afternoon, police said.
