Friendly-fire cop back at work at MTA

The MTA police officer who shot and killed a Nassau police officer in a friendly-fire tragedy outside a Massapequa Park home is back to work, but without his gun, MTA officials said Tuesday.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Officer Glenn Gentile, who was placed on "sick leave" immediately following the March 12 incident, returned to work on April 11 under "restricted or light duty" and is not carrying his weapon, according to MTA spokesman Sam Zambuto.

Gentile shot and killed Nassau Police Officer Geoffrey Breitkopf, 40, in front of a Front Street home where police minutes earlier shot dead Anthony DiGeronimo, 21, after he allegedly threatened officers with a knife.

Police say Breitkopf, in street clothes, was carrying an assault rifle and walking across the lawn of the house when someone shouted an alert about a man with a gun. Gentile's partner grabbed Breitkopf by the arm, and Gentile drew his sidearm and shot Breitkopf, authorities said.

The MTA officers had gone to the scene from a Long Island Rail Road station four blocks away to offer assistance after hearing a Nassau police radio call.

The work restrictions placed on Gentile, a five-year department member, are routine procedure in a shooting case and will remain in place until all pending investigations into the incident are concluded, Zambuto said.

That includes an internal investigation already begun by the MTA Police, Zambuto said.

As part of that investigation, MTA Police will conduct "a review of policies and procedures," including those involving the department's interactions with other law enforcement agencies, Zambuto said.

"The MTA Police has cooperated fully with the Nassau County Police Department and Nassau County DA's investigations," Zambuto said.

Officials with the MTA Police Benevolent Association declined to comment on the case Tuesday.