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A Brentwood man who drove impaired and crashed into a Suffolk County police officer’s vehicle earlier this year — leaving the officer with life-threatening injuries — has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, a judge announced Tuesday.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said Cody B. Fisher, 29, pleaded guilty last month to multiple charges, including Assault on a Police Officer and Vehicular Assault, for the Jan. 5 crash that seriously injured Officer Brendon Gallagher, a member of the department’s Street Takeover Task Force.
“When someone makes the choice to operate a vehicle while under the influence of both alcohol and drugs, then actively flees from law enforcement at excessive speeds, they have already demonstrated a profound disregard for human life,” Tierney said. “This case went beyond a reckless flight. The fact that this officer survived is nothing short of a miracle.”
The crash on the Long Island Expressway
According to court records, Gallagher was conducting a traffic stop on the Long Island Expressway near Exit 58 when Fisher sped by in a 2021 Ford Mustang at about 100 mph. Gallagher attempted to pull Fisher over, but Fisher fled, weaving between lanes before striking the officer’s vehicle.
The impact caused Gallagher’s police SUV to flip on its side and crash into a tree. He had to be extricated from the vehicle and was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he underwent surgery for a torn aorta and other abdominal injuries.
Investigators said Fisher appeared impaired at the scene, showing signs of intoxication and smelling strongly of burnt cannabis. A court-ordered blood test later revealed a blood alcohol content of .06 percent and active marijuana in his system.
The charges and sentence
Fisher pleaded guilty on Sept. 4, 2025, to the following charges:
- Assault on a Police Officer (Class C violent felony)
- Assault in the Second Degree (Class D violent felony)
- Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree (Class E felony)
- Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in the Second Degree (Class E felony)
- Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of a Drug or Alcohol and Drugs (misdemeanor)
- Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle (misdemeanor)
Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins sentenced Fisher to 10 years in state prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.
‘I’m not mad at him’
Following the sentencing, Officer Gallagher spoke at a press conference, saying he felt a sense of closure now that the case had concluded.
“I feel satisfied that it’s finally over,” Gallagher said. “I’m not mad at him. You make poor decisions, you face consequences. That’s it.”
Officer Gallagher’s recovery
Gallagher, 35, was released from Stony Brook University Hospital on Jan. 28, 22 days after the crash.
He was greeted with a standing ovation from fellow officers, first responders, and community members.
“Today, we see something that is truly nothing short of a miracle,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said at the time.
A U.S. Army National Guard veteran who served in Afghanistan, Gallagher had previously survived a stabbing in the line of duty in 2022.
“This officer’s courage and resilience represent the best of Suffolk County law enforcement,” Tierney said.
Fisher was represented by attorneys Eric Besso and Peter Mayer Jr. The case was prosecuted by Acting Deputy Bureau Chief Laura Newcombe and Assistant District Attorney Annemarie DiBlasio of the DA’s Vehicular Crime Bureau.
Related
Top: Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney at a press confrence following the sentencing of Cody B. Fisher. (Credit: GLI/Andrew Rappaport)
