Rockville Centre Police Officer Michael Lerner killed in off-duty motorcycle crash

An off-duty Rockville Centre police officer riding a Harley-Davidson in Eastport was killed after he lost control of the motorcycle and crashed, Southampton Town police said.

Michael E. Lerner, 39, of Bohemia, was heading west on Old Country Road, west of Tuttle Avenue, at 3:26 a.m. Monday when he veered off the roadway and into a “heavily wooded area,” police said in a news release. Lerner was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said no criminality was suspected in the crash. The 2022 Harley-Davidson was impounded by police for a safety check.

Lerner was sworn in as an officer with the Rockville Centre Police Department in September 2021, according to Village of Rockville Centre officials. He is survived by his wife, three children and two stepchildren.

“Officer Lerner served the Village of Rockville Centre with pride and distinction as a police officer since 2021,” Police Commissioner Randy Dodd said in a statement.

The village announced Monday that flags would be flown at half-staff in his honor.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Officer Lerner, who served our Village with dedication and was an inspiration to his fellow officers,” Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray said in a statement. “I offer my condolences to his family and loved ones, and the many friends and colleagues who benefited from his genuine goodness and wisdom.”

Said Lerner's wife, Theresa: "He loved his children and had a passion for motorcycles. He loved being a police officer."

Rockville Centre PBA president James Carty described Lerner as “a loving father, co-worker and friend. We will all hold his memory close to our hearts for the rest of our lives. Please pray for his children as they mourn this great loss.”

Previously, Lerner was an NYPD officer and a sergeant in the 113th Precinct in Jamaica, Queens, according to NYPD records. He also worked in the 75th Precinct in Brooklyn, records show.

Village officials said Lerner was a Marine Corps veteran who served two combat tours in the Iraq War. He earned several medals and commendations, including a combat action ribbon, according to village officials.

“Despite his brief tenure,” Dodd added in the statement, Lerner “made a tremendous impact on both the RVCPD and the Rockville Centre community. His commitment and passion were evident in everything he did, leaving an everlasting mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.