As it must by law, NYS Attorney General investigating fatal crash involving off-duty Suffolk County police officer
As it must by law, the AG's Office of Special Investigation is assessing the crash that killed Hilton Spokony, 45, of East Patchogue, last week. Credit: Paul Mazza
A fatal crash last week involving an off-duty Suffolk County police officer will be investigated by the New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigations, state Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday.
The crash occurred at about 10:10 p.m. Thursday in North Patchogue. According to the police account that Friday, Hilton Spokony, 45, of East Patchogue, was a passenger in a 2023 Kia Forte driven by his 79-year-old mother-in-law when it “collided with” a 2016 Dodge Ram driven by the off-duty officer as the Kia attempted to turn left onto Buckley Road from southbound Waverly Avenue. The Dodge was headed northbound on Waverly, police said.
Spokony was transported to NYU Langone Hospital in Suffolk, where he was pronounced dead. His mother-in-law, whose name was not released, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Police said the 55-year-old officer also was transported to Stony Brook for treatment of minor injuries.
The Attorney General’s Office said in its statement Wednesday that pursuant to state law “every incident reported [to OSI] when a police officer or peace officer” is involved is investigated to determine if that officer “may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission.”
That law also applies to corrections officers.
“Under the law,” the statement read, “the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated.”
If OSI investigators, in assessing the situation, determine an officer may have caused the death a full investigation will follow, James' office said.
Citing policy, police said Wednesday they do not comment on ongoing investigations.
John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.
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