Funeral Service For Suffolk Police Lieutenant Announced

PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY — Funeral services for Suffolk County Police Lieutenant Robert Van Zeyl are scheduled for Tuesday in Port Jefferson Station, police announced. Van Zeyl died on Jan. 20 due to COVID-19.

The funeral is slated for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Gerard Majella R.C. Church, located at 300 Terryville Road.

Terryville Road will be closed between University Drive and Whitman Avenue from 11:15 a.m. to approximately 12:45 p.m. Drivers are encouraged by police to avoid the area due to increased traffic. Attendees were asked by police to park at the church.

Van Zeyl died at the age of 60 and was the first active member of the police department to die of COVID-19. He will be honored with a line of duty funeral. The lieutenant tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 3 and was hospitalized a week later.

Van Zeyl joined the Suffolk County Police Department in February 1985 and served in the Fifth Precinct upon graduation from the academy. He was promoted to sergeant in 1994 and then lieutenant in 2003. He served as the commanding officer of the Applicant Investigation Section and the Administrative Services Bureau before transferring to the Second Precinct in 2015 where he worked until his death.

His career achievements include two Cop of the Month honors and the Excellent Police Duty Award for securing 12 or more self-initiated DWI-related arrests in one year.

Van Zeyl is survived by his ex-wife Christine Zubrinic; daughter Hailey; and son Tyler, who are both 14.