By Laura Crimaldi, Jessica Van Sack and Marie Szaniszlo
Boston Herald
BOSTON — The hero special officer who came to the rescue of a psychiatrist under attack by a rampaging madman is a former seasonal Provincetown cop and champion boxer who was on the list to be considered as a Boston cop.
Paul M. Langone, 33, of Reading was described as an academy-trained, licensed special officer who was armed while off duty when he encountered a horrific scene: a patient brutally stabbing Dr. Astrid Desrosiers at the Massachusetts General Hospital Bipolar Clinical and Research Program on Tuesday afternoon.
Records indicate Langone was on a list of eligible Boston police candidates as of January.
The doctor’s son had a heartfelt message for Langone yesterday: “I would just like to thank you - you saved my mother’s life.”
The college-aged son indicated Desrosiers - a celebrated Haitian community leader - has a long rehab ahead. “We all have prayers for her and hope she fully recovers,” he said.
Jay Carciero, 37, also of Reading, was identified by Boston police as the attacker. He died after being shot once in the head and twice in the torso, authorities said.
Langone and Carciero did not know each other, officials said.
“I know he feels bad about doing it deep down, but he had to do it. I’m sure it bothers him,” said Denis Murphy, of Woburn, who coached Langone to a 1998 Lowell Golden Gloves title in the 156-pound novice division.
Murphy described the former pugilist as shy, tremendously athletic - and one of the nicest kids he’d ever met.
Langone’s father declined to say why his son was at the clinic.
“That was a one in a million situation. I don’t think he could have done anything else,” Paul F. Langone said outside his Reading home. “I think he did what he had to do. He is a very stable, wonderful person.”
The elder Langone said he is praying for Carciero’s family.
“I feel terrible for the loss of life,” he said. “We’re praying for the other family.”
Langone worked as a Provincetown summer officer in 2007, said Provincetown police Chief Jeff Jaran. While on duty, Langone had a run in with Mark Cerian - better known as “Lobster Man,” according to news reports. Cerian was accused of reversing his red Oldsmobile toward Langone during a traffic stop.
Jaran declined comment on the Lobster Man episode yesterday but said Langone left in “good standing.”
Bernadette Kodinsky, a neighbor who has known the Reading family for 27 years, visited Paul Langone last night.
“He’s doing fine. He’s very sensitive. This was not what he wanted,” she told the Herald. “He is a hero, but he doesn’t feel like one.”
Jake Wark, a spokesman for Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley, said it is standard procedure for prosecutors to be treating the probe as a death investigation. Carciero’s autopsy is scheduled for today.
Mental health workers were shaken by the gruesome bloodshed.
“It definitely hit home for us,” said Todd Farchione, clinical psychology professor at Boston University, where several students intern for the MGH clinic. “We’re trying to assure (the students) that this is an unusual event.”
Copyright 2009 Boston Herald