Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Cody B. Fisher, 29, of Brentwood, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday for a high-speed crash that nearly killed Suffolk County Police Officer Brendan Gallagher in January on the Long Island Expressway.
According to Suffolk County prosecutors, Fisher was impaired by a combination of alcohol and marijuana when he flew by Officer Gallagher, who was conducting a traffic stop on another driver. Gallagher then pursued Fisher and attempted to pull him over, but Fisher refused to stop and instead led Gallagher on a chase, “weaving in and out of lanes” and “reaching speeds up to 100 mph,” prosecutors said in a press release.
At one point during the pursuit, Gallagher pulled up alongside Fisher, who revved his engine and sideswiped the police cruiser, causing it to flip over and smash into a tree. Gallagher was critically wounded and had to be extricated from his vehicle. He was airlifted to Stony Brook Hospital for emergency surgery to treat a torn aorta and a sliced-open abdomen and was ultimately placed on life support.
Fisher had pleaded guilty in September to assault on a police officer, vehicular assault, unlawful fleeing a police officer, driving while ability impaired, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and assault in the second degree. At Tuesday’s sentencing, Fisher tearfully apologized to Gallagher, who remains on medical leave and continues to suffer from serious issues as a result of his injuries.
However, the apology appeared to fall on deaf ears. “I think he’s just sorry he got caught. Whenever somebody gets caught, they’re always sorry,” Gallagher said at a press conference following the hearing.
“This case went beyond a reckless flight. The fact that this officer survived is nothing short of a miracle,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. “Today’s sentence of a decade in state prison reflects the gravity of using a motor vehicle as an instrument of violence against those sworn to protect our community.”
Location & Road Context
The January crash occurred on the Long Island Expressway in Suffolk County. The LIE serves as one of Long Island’s primary east-west arteries, carrying heavy traffic volumes daily through both Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Prior to the January incident that nearly killed Officer Gallagher, Fisher had brandished a gun at another driver during a road rage incident in Queens, prosecutors revealed. The judge, when handing down the 10-year sentence Tuesday, called Fisher a “proven menace on the roads.”
Fisher faced multiple charges including assault on a police officer, vehicular assault, unlawful fleeing a police officer, driving while ability impaired, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and assault in the second degree. His guilty plea in September led to Tuesday’s sentencing hearing where he received the decade-long prison term.
Broader Impact
The case highlights the severe consequences of impaired driving combined with fleeing police, particularly when it results in life-threatening injuries to law enforcement officers. Officer Gallagher’s ongoing medical leave and continued health issues underscore the lasting impact such crashes can have on victims and their families.