A tragic single-vehicle crash claimed the life of 45-year-old Charles Cato, a New Windsor, NY resident and 17-year veteran NYPD Detective.
According to New York State Police, the incident occurred around 6 a.m. as Cato was driving a 2019 Subaru northbound on the Palisades Interstate Parkway near Exit 19 in Highlands. The vehicle left the road and struck a tree in the median.
Cato was transported to Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, where he was pronounced dead. The circumstances of the crash are under investigation.
“Detective Cato was dedicated and fearless, consistently giving his all to investigate shootings,” said Scott Munro, president of the Detectives’ Endowment Association. “He was relentless in his work and will be deeply missed by the public and his fellow detectives, some of the best in the world.”
Cato had been serving with the Force Investigation Division since 2019, focusing on thorough investigations of police-involved shootings. He joined the NYPD in July 2007 and earned a promotion to detective 3rd grade in 2017, according to department records.
Authorities urge anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the State Police in Middletown at 845-344-5300, referencing case number NY2400969180.
