Officer charged with DWI after crash involving patrol car
Published on:
August 3, 2026
A Greenport police officer has been charged with DWI following a crash Sunday afternoon that involved a patrol vehicle. Photo contributed.
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GREENPORT―A Greenport police officer has been charged with DWI following a crash that involved a patrol vehicle.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of 440 Fairview Avenue around 4:41 p.m. on Sunday for a 911 call reporting an accident involving a Greenport Police Department vehicle.
Preliminary investigation determined that Greenport Police Officer Stephanie Van Alstyne was traveling north on Fairview Avenue when she allegedly veered off the road, resulting in a crash that caused significant damage to the patrol vehicle.
She sustained minor injuries to her hand but declined medical treatment.
According to the sheriff’s office, Van Alstyne was charged with driving while intoxicated and had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.15 percent, nearly twice the legal limit.
Van Alstyne, who is also employed as a corrections officer at the Columbia County Jail, was immediately suspended without pay pending the outcome of the investigation, the sheriff’s office said.
The investigation remains ongoing.
