Oceanport Police Captain Barcus Back on Duty After Being Struck by Lightning

Oceanport Police Captain Dan Barcus was hesitant to have the spotlight on him as he returned to his post the Tuesday following  at the intersection of Port Au Peck and Oceanport Avenues.

"It's not about me," said Barcus in a telephone conversation Wednesday. "It's about the great cops and doctors who took great care of me."

Barcus said he was assisting another officer who was directing traffic at the intersection during heavy rain last Friday.

"I just wanted to get the guy out of the road," said Barcus. "I wasn't thinking about lightning. I just happened to be the unlucky idiot at the wrong place at the wrong time."

It was the second time Barcus was struck at the intersection. The first strike occurred five years to the day, on June 24, 2006.

"Some people hit the lotto, I get the struck by lightning twice thing," said Barcus. "A few people have asked me if I have superpowers yet."

Though Barcus was not directly struck by the lightning bolt that hit the gate at the Port Au Peck entrance to the Monmouth Park parking lot (which Barcus said is referred to as "the chute") the electricity passed through the gate to water on the ground, then made its way through Barcus' body.

According to Barcus, getting struck by lightning feels like being  electrocuted via wall outlet -- only much more powerful -- so intense that he only recalls the crackle of thunder, the current running through his body, and then later waking up in a hospital bed at Monmouth Medical.

Patch commenter Sheleigh and her husband were stopped at the intersection and witnessed the entire incident.

"He dropped to the ground and then was struggling to stand and regain his composure," said Sheleigh.

Luckily for Barcus, Patrolman Steven Briskey was also a nearby witness. Briskey responded quickly, transporting Barcus to the hospital in an Oceanport Police Cruiser.

Barcus said he still has some soreness in his neck, shoulders, and back which doctors at Monmouth Medical said was the result of the electrical current making his muscles tense up. He experienced similar soreness after the first time he was struck.

"I'm feeling sore, but ready to get back to work and put this past me," said Barcus. "I will probably take June 24 off next year, and definitely won't be working on that day five years from now."