Family of wounded NYPD officer Brett Boller from Hauppauge is 'drained' but thankful

A rookie NYPD officer from Hauppauge who's been hospitalized since suffering a gunshot wound Wednesday afternoon while chasing a suspect in Queens was "stable," his mother said Thursday night, describing the family as "emotionally drained but we’re thankful."

Brett Boller, the 22-year-old officer, was recovering at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center from a gunshot to his right hip sustained during a struggle with the still-on-the-loose male suspect in Jamaica.

Boller, whose father, Don, is a 30-year NYPD veteran, "has been on the job three months, and this happens," said his mother, Leanne Boller. "I was at work when I was told what was going on. From there we’ve been on Autopilot and we’re just focused on Brett and getting him better.” 

At a news conference Wednesday night at the hospital, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell and other department officials did not identify Boller and another officer but said both were attempting to question the suspect that afternoon about a dispute over a seat on an MTA bus when he fled on foot. Both officers gave chase, and one caught up with the suspect and was shot during a struggle, said NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig at the news conference.

When she heard her son had been shot, "my first reaction was, I've been with [her husband] for 29 years and there’s been incidents, but nothing of this severity,” Leanne Boller said.

Of her son, she said, "Brett’s chill. … I think Brett’s demeanor makes for a good cop. Brett knows when something is to be taken seriously and he knows when not to overreact.”

"Heart of a giant"

He also knows how to run, fast, according to his mother, and Josh Gutes, his baseball coach at Hauppauge High School, where the rookie cop was a standout three-sport athlete.

"Brett was so fast and used to run down fly balls in centerfield," Gutes said. "I'm not at all surprised that he was able to run down a bad guy. Speed was his greatest attribute."

Gutes described Boller as an impressive three-year starter in centerfield who, while undersized, had the "heart of a giant."

"He was a really tough kid who played hard at all times," Gutes said.

Leanne Boller saw it early.

“I loved watching him play sports,” she said. “I remember buying his first little cleats in soccer.”

Those skills honed on Hauppauge High athletic fields appeared to come in handy Wednesday afternoon.

At around 3:20 p.m., an MTA bus driver flagged down the two police officers at 161st Street and Jamaica Avenue because the suspect was engaged in the dispute with another rider, according to Essig.

The suspect then exited through the front door of the bus, pushing one of the cops before fleeing on foot onto 161st Street, Essig said. After one of the officers caught up and a struggle ensued, the perpetrator fired one shot, striking the cop in the right hip, the chief said.

The second police officer returned fire twice but the suspect fled into a nearby parking garage, where authorities recovered a black bubble jacket, black mask and orange sweatshirt worn by the perpetrator, Essig said. Surveillance video showed the suspect exiting the garage and he was last seen at 161st Street and Hillside Avenue. Police said it was unknown whether the suspect was hit by gunfire.

"Somebody will recognize him"

The NYPD has released pictures of the suspect, including an image of his left hand with the name 'Jocelyn' on it. The department has also announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-8477.

Gutes said Boller was part of two league championship runs with the baseball team in 2016 and 2017. He was also a two-time all-league selection in 2017 and 2018. Boller also spent three-years on Hauppauge High's varsity boys soccer team, including the 2018 Suffolk championship club, according to Gutes, adding that Boller was a guard on the school's basketball team for two years.

"We loved him as a player and a leader by example. Everyone followed the way Brett played," Gutes said. "He wasn't as much a verbal leader as he was a 'do as I do player'. Brett always had excellent body language and he was a fierce competitor. He was so smart and always figured out a way to get things done."  

With Anthony M. DeStefano and Gregg Sarra 

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.