TOLEDO, Ohio — Police officers protect and serve the community every day. But on Thursday, the community turned that around to care for a retired Toledo police officer struggling with his health.
Every other week people come to the Toledo Yacht Club for a Cruisin' to the Point event to check out vintage cars.
But loved ones gathered Thursday to gift Brian O'Connell an unforgettable vintage car of his own to honor his 22 years on the force.
"I miss all the guys at work every day," O'Connell said. "I miss the job so much."
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In 2019, O'Connell helped save a kid who fell through ice on a pond.
Instances like that one were just part of the job, he said, and he'd "do it all again tomorrow."
Each day was a new challenge to help those in need But now, O'Connell is the one in need of support.
"I woke up with a defibrillator and I'm just never going to be the same person again, so it's time to hang it up," he said.
O'Connell is also dealing with a possible cancer on his kidney.
"They're going to take that out in November, so hopefully I'll be OK with the one," he said. "They said I would be OK with just one. Hopefully, it didn't spread."
Steve Szczepaniak, a close friend of O'Connell's, was key figure behind giving O'Connell his new wheels.
"He's like a brother to me," Szczepaniak said. "He puts people first all the time ahead of him no matter what."
When Szczepaniak learned the news of O'Connell's health troubles, he knew he couldn't help his fight, but he could lift his spirit.
Szczepaniak got to work with some friends and used his own car shop to fix up a vehicle.
"We all got together, we all donated, we all put in labor and stuff to get this car going," he said.
Szczepaniak gave a speech to O'Connell when gifting him the car, too, noting their friendship.
"This is your Point Place police cruiser," he said at the event on Thursday. "With admiration and appreciation, I just want to thank you for everything and being part of Cruisin' with the Point. I love you, Brian."
It's a feeling that O'Connell will never forget.
"Looks like I'm coming out of retirement and patrolling the Point again," he said, laughing.