Funeral For Off-Duty S.I. Police Officer Who Died Rescuing His Family During Sandy

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Family and friends gathered on Staten Island on Thursday to bid a final farewell to an off-duty police officer who died rescuing his family from flood waters during superstorm Sandy.

Last Monday night, Officer Artur Kasprzak, 28, moved his family into the attic and away from rising flood waters that were surging in his home on Doty Avenue on Staten Island.

He then went to check the basement, but never returned. He was found dead in the basement the following morning.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivered the eulogy at the funeral service at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church on Staten Island.

Bloomberg called Kasprzak a "young man full of extraordinary promise" who loved his life, family and job.

"He worked hard, never complained, always stayed positive, and was always ready to take one for the team," Bloomberg said.

"If you're a police officer, you couldn't ask for a better teammate. If you're a New Yorker, you couldn't ask for a better person to be serving our city."

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly also praised Kasprzak, saying he was "everything we could have asked for in a police officer and more."

Kasprzak was assigned to the 1st Precinct in Manhattan and had six years on the job. Previously, he served the city for one year as an NYPD Cadet, and was assigned to the 122 Pct. Detective Squad.

Sandy claimed the lives of 41 people in New York City.