Man sentenced to 19-years for shooting of off-duty cop
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Beach Channel Drive and Beach 62nd Street in Arverne, where an NYPD officer was shot in an attempted carjacking in February 2022. Screenshot from Google Maps
By Ryan Schwach
Chad Collie, the 20-year-old found responsible for the wounding of an off-duty rookie NYPD officer last year, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced this week.
Collie, a native of Far Rockaway, was sentenced after pleading guilty to attempted murder in the Feb. 1, 2022 shooting of the off-duty rookie as the officer was driving to work in Brooklyn from his own Far Rockaway home.
“This type of lawlessness has no place in our communities and we have made sure that a dangerous man will serve a long prison sentence,” said Katz. “We will not let up in our efforts to get guns off our streets.”
Last year, the off-duty officer was driving to work at the 63rd Precinct in Brooklyn around 10 p.m. when he stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Beach Channel Drive and Beach 62nd Street in the Arverne section of Far Rockaway.
Prosecutors said Collie tapped on the driver’s side window and demanded the 22-year-old officer get out of the car at gunpoint, attempting to carjack the officer.
Video surveillance shows the officer exit the vehicle, and back away from Collie. Collie fired three shots at the officer, striking him once in the shoulder. The off-duty officer returned fire, but missed Collie, who then fled on foot.
Nearby officers heard the sound of gunfire and spotted Collie on Beach 62nd Street. They followed him to the intersection of Beach Channel Drive and Beach 59th Street, stopped in front of him and exited their car. Collie then shot at the officers, missing them but striking the car. He tossed the gun and fled, but was arrested a short time later.
The officer was brought to a nearby hospital where he recovered from his wounds. The off-duty officer, who is no longer a member of the NYPD, told the Eagle he hopes the man who was convicted of his attempted murder gets the resources he needs in prison.
“I hope that over the course of his sentence, Collie receives the rehabilitation he requires,” said the officer, who spoke with the Eagle on the condition of anonymity. “In addition, I hope our youth in underserved communities are provided with the resources necessary to avoid these unfortunate outcomes.”
“However, accountability is important,” he added. “I’m grateful for DA Katz and the Queens DA’s office for their efforts in securing a lengthy sentence.”
