Family assails sentence for ex-cop, firefighter in Holtsville fatal hit-and- run

A Long Island family expressed outrage in and outside a Riverhead courtroom Thursday over the 90-day jail sentence for a retired cop and firefighter who admitted leaving the scene of a 2023 Holtsville crash that killed a Bay Shore woman.

Suffolk Supreme Court Justice John Collins, in handing down the sentence to Steven Syrop, 53, of Holtsville, noted the plea agreement the district attorney’s office reached with his defense attorney took into consideration his prior service as a first responder.

"You should be grateful for that," the judge told Syrop, a retired NYPD officer and FDNY firefighter.

At the sentencing, the mother and sister of the victim, Jennifer Bianco, addressed Syrop directly and told him how their lives have changed since he hit Bianco as she walked on a road shoulder before driving off.

"You broke our hearts the same way you broke every bone within my sister’s body," Joanna Alfo, Bianco's sister, said to Syrop in court. "You took two oaths to serve and protect and to save lives and ... you left my sister on the side of the road like an animal, a piece of trash. You will never be forgiven for this. You will reap what you sow."

Syrop, having pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death in July, began serving his sentence Aug. 16. His attorney, Edward Palermo, of Hauppauge, said he expects his client will be released in early October.

Prosecutors have said Bianco was walking in the southbound shoulder of North Ocean Avenue about midnight on May 21, 2023, when Syrop, driving a blue 2020 Chevy Silverado, struck her from behind. Her body was not discovered until about 7:45 a.m. after Syrop left the scene without stopping, rendering aid or reporting the death to law enforcement.

Car parts found by law enforcement along the shoulder of the road where the collision occurred matched damage to Syrop's truck, which was found parked at his home the day after the incident, prosecutors have said. He was arrested more than a month later.

"I’m not exactly sure what happened that night, but I do know that Ms. Bianco was struck by your vehicle with such force that she was thrown to the side of the road and wasn’t discovered for approximately seven hours," Collins said at sentencing. "Jennifer was severely injured. I don’t know if she was killed immediately or suffered during those seven hours off to the side of the roadway."

Following Syrop’s indictment last November, District Attorney Ray Tierney acknowledged the difficulties in prosecuting cases where someone leaves the scene of a crash, saying state laws encourage drivers to flee rather than face consequences. He said this enables the drivers to potentially destroy evidence, and encouraged lawmakers to increase penalties for deadly hit-and-runs.

Assistant District Attorney Ray Varuolo said by offering the plea, prosecutors assured a conviction.

"I know the family was concerned because he was an ex-police officer and ex-firefighter, but I want the family to know that now, if somebody Googles the name Steven Syrop they will not only see police officer or firemen, but they will also see convicted felon, because of what we did here today. The world will know who killed Jennifer."

When it came his chance to speak, Syrop said leaving the scene was "the worst decision of my life." He told her family he still thinks about Bianco and expressed remorse for his actions.

"I hope one day you and your family can forgive me for the pain and suffering I have caused," Syrop said to those in attendance, which, along with Bianco’s sister and mother, included her nieces and a cousin.

As part of his sentence, Syrop will perform 420 hours of community service, pay the maximum $5,000 fine and be subject to 5 years’ post-release supervision. The judge said he is recommending that probationary period include strict drug and alcohol conditions and periodic searches of his home, despite the objections of Palermo. Syrop will also lose his driving privileges for at least 1 year.

Outside court Thursday, Alfo said the sentence was "nothing compared to what he should be doing."

Bianco’s mother, Barbara Alfo, said she hopes Syrop suffers for the pain he caused her family.

"We tried to get justice for Jennifer, we got no justice," the mom said "He got the justice. Ninety days in jail. Then he gets out."

By Grant Parpan

grant.parpan@newsday.com@GrantParpan

Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.