Friends, family and fellow law enforcement officers will pay their respect to Nassau County police officer Joseph Olivieri this weekend after the veteran cop died in the line of duty Thursday while trying to help a man involved in two separate car crashes on the Long Island Expressway.
Police officials said a wake is scheduled for Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ronkonkoma Fire Department.
Funeral arrangements have been made for Monday at St. Joseph R.C. Church in Ronkonkoma.
The 13-year veteran NCPD officer was responding to a call of a flat tire early Thursday morning when he came upon a wreck near exit 35 involving a Toyota Camry and a Honda Civic.
Olivieri was hit by a Cadillac Escalade while trying to help the driver of the Camry, James Ryan, who was charged later that day with vehicular manslaughter reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a control substance, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a crash.
The 43-year-old officer was rushed to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, where he died.
Nassau police brass described Olivieri as a “cops cop,” and a “hero.”
Olivieri is survived by his 19-year-old son Daniel, 21-year-old daughter Amanda, two brothers, mother and father.