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Pride: Attack hero still helping others
THIS week's Pride In Peterborough front page has been presented to Nick Petruzziello.
THIS week's Pride In Peterborough front page has been presented to Nick Petruzziello.Nick was hailed a hero almost three years ago when he tackled an armed man during an incident in Long Causeway, in Peterborough city centre.
Now he has taken his desire to protect the public one step further after taking on a new role as a community police officer.
The 24-year-old has joined Cambridgeshire Constabulary as a police community support officer (PCSO) and one day soon he hopes to become a fully fledged police officer.
On January 5, 2007, Mr Petruzziello, of Dogsthorpe Road, was attacked by paranoid schizophrenic Mohammed Zouaoui, who had driven into a pedestrianised area in Long Causeway, in his Citroen AX, knocking over a man and woman.
Mr Petruzziello confronted him, but was stabbed in the stomach.
Despite being injured, Mr Petruzziello instructed by-standers to back away to safety. The eight-inch blade missed his vital organs and he recovered in hospital.
Mr Petruzziello, a former painter and decorator, says his ordeal had strengthened his desire to join the police.
He said: "The incident just made me more determined. I am determined to make sure what happened to me doesn't happen to anyone else on my watch.
"I am lucky to be alive. It was an ordeal but I have pushed it aside and treated it as a learning curve.
"Being a PCSO has been fantastic. The people I work with are brilliant."
Mr Petruzziello is passionate about protecting the public. He joined the Territorial Army's Royal Logistics Corps at Grantham in 2005 as a private and was prepared to serve in the ongoing Afghanistan conflict.
He said: "I am always willing to help."
He has given up the TA to concentrate on police work and hopes to be a fully-fledged police officer in future.
But for now he is happy in his role, and says he will continue community work for the next few years.
He said: "What better way to help people than working for the police?
"It is nice to speak to people and reassure them because I know what it feels like. I'm really enjoying the job so I will keep doing it."
NEW ROLE: Nick Petruzziello has landed his dream job as a PCSO. (METP-26-11-09AS051) Picture: Alan Storer
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
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Wind direction: East
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