Suffolk cop killed in crash was Marine veteran
Robert Bowen, 34, of Ronkonkoma, an Iraq war veteran and a seven-year Suffolk police officer, died Monday after a car crash on the LIE. (Handout)
Seven-year
veteran Suffolk police Officer Robert Bowen was a
battle-tested and decorated veteran of the Iraq war,
bringing experience in one of the nation's most revered
fighting forces -- the Marines -- to his patrols of
Suffolk County, where his superiors said he also served
with distinction.
"He was just a down-to-earth nice guy who did a good job
for us," said Suffolk Deputy Police Chief Patrick Cuff,
who was Bowen's commanding officer at the Third Precinct
in Bay Shore until last Friday when Cuff was promoted.
"And he loved the Marines."
Suffolk County Sheriff's Department Chief of Staff
Michael Sharkey said Bowen, 34, of Ronkonkoma,
died early Monday when he lost control of his car, which
clipped the rear of another vehicle, struck a guardrail
and overturned.
Bowen's wife, Vanessa, 30, said her husband was driving
after socializing with friends after a night tour.
"He was the most wonderful person," she said at their
home. "He would do anything for anybody."
Vanessa Bowen said the couple have a daughter about to
turn 2. Her husband was a big fan of fitness, she said.
"He loved to work out," she said. "He was a health
freak. Definitely kept in shape and took care of
himself. He knew how to talk to people, that's for sure.
He was really funny. He made me laugh so much just being
stupid."
Bowen joined the Marines in 1996, and was stationed at
Camp Lejeune, N.C.
He served at least four years in the active Marine Corps
before becoming a reservist assigned to Echo Company of
the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, based in Garden
City.
He deployed to Kuwait in 2003, and to Iraq in 2007,
before receiving an honorable discharge on Feb. 8, 2008,
according to Master Sgt. Ronald Spencer, a Marine
spokesman.
"I don't know his whole service record, but I can say he
was pretty well decorated," said Spencer, who said Bowen
had been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement
Medal three times, as well as a Combat Action Ribbon and
a host of other citations.
Najib Aminy contributed to this story.