New York State Police, New York
End of Watch: Wednesday, February 2, 1983
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 16 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: February 2, 1983
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Trooper Brian Rovnak was killed in a vehicle crash on I-84 five miles east of Taconic Parkway while he and his partner were en route to meet other troopers at 4:25 am.
The troopers were traveling eastbound on I-84 when the vehicle went off the highway, crashing into the guard rails, which caused the patrol car to flip. Both Troopers were transported to Putnam Community Hospital, where Trooper Rovnak succumbed to his injuries. The other trooper suffered a concussion.
Trooper Rovnak was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran who served with the New York State Police for 16 years and was assigned to Troop K. He was survived by his wife, two sons, mother, three brothers, and two sisters.
The Taconic State Parkway bridge overpass in East Fishkill, Dutchess, NY, has been renamed the Trooper Brian N. Rovnak Memorial Bridge.