It was the morning of December 29th when he pulled his cruiser into Windward Beach Park and was told by a frightened visitor there was a woman in the water near the dock trying to take her life.
"Going in the water, didn't even think twice. The adrenaline was flowing and I knew I had to do what I had to do," Albanese said.
Albanese stripped off his belt, gun and other gear then radioed dispatch for help. He grabbed a life jacket, ran back to the beach and jumped into the 44-degree water.
"By the time I got to her I was already past neck-deep and I actually swam another 5 yards to reach her. Once I was able to get my feet back underneath me, I carried her the rest of the way," Albanese said.
A small army of cops, paramedics and EMTs were waiting at the shoreline to begin reviving the passed-out victim.
Police aren't releasing the woman's name, but she's expected to survive all because Officer Albanese responded instantly in a life or death situation.
"And that was a lady who came to shore with water bubbling out of her mouth, unconscious," Brick Township Sgt. John Talty said. "He's just a great guy and on this particular day God put him at the right place at the right time."
A three-year veteran of the department with years of water rescue training, Officer Albanese is getting lots of pats on the back, but doesn't consider himself a hero.
"I am not thinking that it's heroic. It's what I signed up to do and what I expect anyone else to do and I know any another officer in the Brick Township Police Department would have done the exact same thing," Albanese said.