Colleagues Mourn Long Island Corrections Officer Killed In Crash

YAPHANK, NY —Friends and colleagues in the law enforcement community are mourning the loss of a 25-year-old corrections officer who was killed in a car crash on Long Island on Wednesday.

Correction Officer Candice Ogiejko of Port Jefferson Station joined the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office in January 2019 and had just completed her second year on the force, according to Sheriff Errol Toulon.

“The entire staff of the Sheriff's Office is mourning the loss of Correction Officer Candice Ogiejko,” Toulon said in a statement issued Friday morning. “Correction Officer Ogiejko was just 25 years old and had her entire life and career ahead of her. She will be greatly missed by her loving family, as well as her extended family in law enforcement.”

Ogiejko will be laid to rest on Monday.

Her death was announced on Thursday afternoon in a Facebook post with Toulon’s office saying colleagues were “greatly saddened” by her death.

"Sheriff Toulon and staff send our deepest condolences to her family and friends," the post continued.

"Her colleagues and her ‘family' at the Sheriff’s Office are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own. May she rest in peace."

Ogiejko was driving a 2019 Dodge Ram north on County Road 101 at about 8:40 p.m. Wednesday when it veered toward the center grass median, according to Suffolk police. She overcorrected and lost control of the car, which then skidded and crashed into the northeast corner of Old Dock Road, police said.

The car struck curbing, fencing and several large trees, ending up down an embankment near a parking lot at about 8:40 p.m., police said.

Ogiejko was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.

On Thursday morning, the union that represented Ogiejko, the county's Corrections Officers Association, posted a photo of the star badge its members wear, but with a black band across its front in a sign of mourning.

The county Deputy Sheriffs Police Benevolent Association said "all law enforcement agencies" were mourning the loss.

"We offer our sincere condolences to her family and co-workers. RIP," the Facebook post concluded.

District Attorney Timothy Sini said he was "deeply saddened to hear of the loss of one of our heroes today," in a post on his official Facebook page. "My thoughts are with the friends and family of Corrections Officer Candice Ogiejko. May she rest in peace."

The Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association said its members are grieving the loss of Ogiejko.

"We offer our heartfelt condolences to Corrections Officer Ogiejko’s family and loved ones, the Suffolk County Corrections Officers Benevolent Association, and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office," a post on the union's Facebook read. "Law enforcement in Suffolk County is a family, and this heartbreaking loss saddens each and every member of the uniformed services. May she rest in peace."

Ogiejko's car was impounded for a safety check. Detectives are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact the 5th Squad at 631-854-8552.