HollyMatkinWhitesboro, NY – Whitesboro Police Officer Kevin Crossley died in the line of duty on Apr. 11, when a motorist turned into his lane, and caused their vehicles to collide nearly head-on, police said.
Officer Crossley, 34, was also a part-time officer with the Whitestown Police Department.
The incident occurred just before 8 p.m., while Officer Crossley was traveling eastbound in his Whitesboro patrol vehicle, WKTV reported.
As the officer drove through an intersection in a 40 mph zone, 26-year-old Nicole Moshier-Harris made a left-hand turn in her 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche, and crashed into Officer Crossley nearly head-on.
The officer was rushed to St. Elizabeth Medical Center by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead.
“Whitesboro is a small, close community,” the Village of Whitesboro posted to its Facebook page the day after Officer Crossley’s death. “This strikes at the heart of all of us. Our hearts are broken.”
Moshier-Harris sustained a broken ankle, and was treated and released from the hospital, the Observer-Dispatch reported.
New York State Police Major Philip Rougeux said that there was no indication that drug or alcohol use were factors in the crash, and did not know whether or not either of the drivers had been wearing their seatbelts.
No citations or arrests were made, and the investigation into the crash is ongoing, Maj. Rougeux said.
Officer Crossley was a seven-year veteran of the Whitesboro Police Department , whose “life dream” was to be a law enforcement officer, Chief Dominick Hiffa said during a press conference, according to WKTV.
He obtained a degree in criminal justice from Mohawk Valley Community College, and went on to attend the Police Academy at Cazenovia College, according to his obituary.
Officer Crossley began his career as a police intern, and was hired as a full-time officer in 2011, Chief Hiffa said.
He was born and raised in the community, and had worked as a volunteer firefighter with the Whitesboro Fire Department from 2002 until 2014, the Times Telegram reported.
“Like many of us in local police departments, we want to police where we’ve grown up and protect our communities and serve,” the Chief Hiffa said, according to WKTV.
“He loved his job, and he was a great guy to work with,” the chief added. “Always upbeat, a lot of fun. Very good to people that he served.”
Officer Crossley also “loved anything with a motor,” Chief Hiffa said, according to the Times Telegram. “It made him smile…especially a police car.”
Officer Crossley’s passing marked the first line-of-duty death for the department.
He will be laid to rest on Wednesday, according to the Observer-Dispatch.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Whitesboro Police Officer Kevin Crossley, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.