- Joined
- May 6, 2010
- Messages
- 15,693
QUOTE....... A Nassau County highway patrol officer was struck and killed in the line of duty early Thursday on the Long Island Expressway, according to Nassau County and police sources.
Sources identified the officer as Joseph Olivieri.
Olivieri, who has been on the force since 1998, was fatally struck about 5 a.m. Thursday in North Hills. The officer was out of his car to investigate an accident in the HOV lane when he was struck and killed by a vehicle, according to Nassau County officials with knowledge of the investigation.
Although Nassau County police would not immediately comment, District Attorney Kathleen Rice issued a statement on the death of the officer but did not identify him by name.
"Early this morning, one of our brave police officers was killed in the line of duty . . . My heart breaks for the officer's family, friends and colleagues," Rice said in a statement. She promised to get to the bottom of what happened and vowed to "continue to work tirelessly every day to protect those who risk their lives for the safety of our communities."
Olivieri, 43, joined the Nassau County police force after five years as a New York City police officer.
In March 2003, he was honored as a Seventh Precinct officer of the month for recovering a stolen car and making an arrest while conducting random license plate checks.
In 2000, Olivieri flipped his police cruiser in Massapequa as he was returning from patrol and had to be rescued by several fellow officers when he became pinned inside, according to a Newsday story. The cruiser hit a utility pole on Carmans Road, south of Pittsburgh Avenue, and overturned. Several officers and civilians lifted the car and paramedics crawled inside to cut him from his safety belt, according to the Newsday story.
Olivieri had a concussion and fractures of the right femur, right elbow and left forearm, the story said.
The two-vehicle accident early Thursday closed all eastbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway in North Hills, according to the state Department of Transportation, backing up traffic to Queens.
Informny.com, the department's website, reported a two-vehicle accident at 4:46 a.m. between Exits 34 and 36.
A Nassau County police traffic advisory sent via email at 5:20 a.m. said eastbound lanes of the expressway were closed at Exit 35.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale and County Executive Edward Mangano announced they would hold a noon news conference about the accident.
Nassau Police Officer Michael Califano, 44, of Wantagh, was the last Nassau County police officer killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop. He died after a flatbed truck struck his patrol car in February 2011 on the Long Island Expressway.
With Robert Brodsky and Gary Dymski UNQUOTE........
REST IN PEACE TO OUR BROTHER IN BLUE......PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES.
Sources identified the officer as Joseph Olivieri.
Olivieri, who has been on the force since 1998, was fatally struck about 5 a.m. Thursday in North Hills. The officer was out of his car to investigate an accident in the HOV lane when he was struck and killed by a vehicle, according to Nassau County officials with knowledge of the investigation.
Although Nassau County police would not immediately comment, District Attorney Kathleen Rice issued a statement on the death of the officer but did not identify him by name.
"Early this morning, one of our brave police officers was killed in the line of duty . . . My heart breaks for the officer's family, friends and colleagues," Rice said in a statement. She promised to get to the bottom of what happened and vowed to "continue to work tirelessly every day to protect those who risk their lives for the safety of our communities."
Olivieri, 43, joined the Nassau County police force after five years as a New York City police officer.
In March 2003, he was honored as a Seventh Precinct officer of the month for recovering a stolen car and making an arrest while conducting random license plate checks.
In 2000, Olivieri flipped his police cruiser in Massapequa as he was returning from patrol and had to be rescued by several fellow officers when he became pinned inside, according to a Newsday story. The cruiser hit a utility pole on Carmans Road, south of Pittsburgh Avenue, and overturned. Several officers and civilians lifted the car and paramedics crawled inside to cut him from his safety belt, according to the Newsday story.
Olivieri had a concussion and fractures of the right femur, right elbow and left forearm, the story said.
The two-vehicle accident early Thursday closed all eastbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway in North Hills, according to the state Department of Transportation, backing up traffic to Queens.
Informny.com, the department's website, reported a two-vehicle accident at 4:46 a.m. between Exits 34 and 36.
A Nassau County police traffic advisory sent via email at 5:20 a.m. said eastbound lanes of the expressway were closed at Exit 35.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale and County Executive Edward Mangano announced they would hold a noon news conference about the accident.
Nassau Police Officer Michael Califano, 44, of Wantagh, was the last Nassau County police officer killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop. He died after a flatbed truck struck his patrol car in February 2011 on the Long Island Expressway.
With Robert Brodsky and Gary Dymski UNQUOTE........
REST IN PEACE TO OUR BROTHER IN BLUE......PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES.