Family of Doorman Killed by Drunk NYPD Officer Rages at Sentencing
Former officer Tiffany Howell received between 4 and 12 years for the wrong-way crash that killed Manuel Boitel.
The family of a doorman killed by a drunken off-duty NYPD officer expressed their grief and anger during the officer's sentencing. Tiffany Howell, formerly a sergeant with the New York Police Department, was sentenced on Wednesday to between four and 12 years in prison for aggravated vehicular homicide and second-degree manslaughter.
Manuel Boitel, 61, died in January when Howell, driving the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway with a blood alcohol content of at least .18, collided head-on with his vehicle. Boitel was returning home from his job at an Upper East Side apartment building.
During the sentencing in Westchester County Court, Boitel's son, Eric Boitel, spoke about the devastating impact of Howell's actions. "She has seen firsthand the devastation that actions can leave behind," Eric Boitel stated, emphasizing Howell's role as a law enforcement officer. "She knows that one reckless decision can take someone’s life, tear a family apart and leave loved ones carrying pain for the rest of their lives."
Howell, 48, who had been with the NYPD for 18 years, pleaded guilty to the charges in August. In court, she expressed remorse, stating, "I know that I made a terrible decision and I know that the consequences are irreversible. I know I shouldn’t have consumed alcohol and taken the wheel and I’m so incredibly sorry that I did."
Prosecutors highlighted that Howell had been drinking at an NYPD religious association event before getting behind the wheel. Her vehicle was traveling south on the northbound lanes of the parkway when the crash occurred. Photos from the scene depicted two SUVs severely damaged, facing each other.
Howell resigned from the NYPD shortly after the incident. Her attorney had characterized the crash as a significant deviation from her past conduct. However, Assistant Attorney General Allison Stuart countered that Howell's actions showed a disregard for human life. Judge Anne B. Bianchi echoed these sentiments, calling Howell's apology "superficial" and "self-serving."
"This is the Boitel family’s nightmare. This is not your nightmare. This is a situation you created and that you could have completely avoided," the judge told Howell.
Boitel was described as a devoted family man who was always willing to help others. A fundraiser organized to support his family noted that his death left a "huge void."