Two Port Authority officers ‘are suspended for ignoring one-way driver who killed cop, ex-MLB star’

Two Port Authority detectives have reportedly been suspended for ignoring a wrong-way driver, who went on to kill himself and officer Anthony Varvaro, a former Major League pitcher, in a two-car collision.

Henry Plaras, 30, was driving his Toyota Rav4 to the Ground Zero ceremony on September 11 in lower Manhattan, when he was allegedly spotted by detectives Daniel Rafael and John Basile driving the wrong way on the New Jersey Turnpike Hudson Bay Extension, according to the New York Post.

Neither Rafael nor Basile reported Plaras, who ultimately collided with Varvaro’s police vehicle, the Post reports. Later, unaware of the fatal ramifications of their decision to ignore Plaras, the two detectives discussed seeing the wrong-way driver on their way to the Ground Zero memorial for that day’s 9/11 ceremony, according to the Post. Rafael and Plaras have reportedly been suspended, as well as two other detectives connected to the incident.

‘This driver could have killed numerous people the way he was driving,’ a source told the Post. ‘All they had to do was report the driver and officers would have responded to pull the driver over… Maybe they would have saved Officer Varvaro’s life.’

Varvaro, a 37-year-old married father of four from Staten Island, pitched over six seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox before leaving the sport to become a Port Authority officer in 2016.

Varvaro, a 37-year-old married father of four from Staten Island, pitched over six seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox before leaving the sport to become a Port Authority officer in 2016

Port Authority spokeswoman Lenis Valens issued a statement to DailyMail.com, saying there have been four suspensions after the department’s investigation. However, she declined to identify the individuals, citing the ongoing disciplinary process. 

‘The Port Authority continues to mourn the tragic loss of Officer Varvaro,’ Valens said in a statement issued to DailyMaill.com. ‘After learning about these allegations, the agency immediately initiated a rigorous external investigation, and based on the results of that investigation, four members of the Port Authority Police Department have been suspended by the Superintendent of Police and the formal disciplinary process has been initiated. 

‘In light of the pending disciplinary process, we will not have any additional comment about this matter now, except to say that our hearts are very much with the Varvaro family.’

Police line the streets as they attend the funeral for police Officer Anthony Varvaro at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Staten Island

Kerry Varvaro and their 3 sons, Anthony jr., Jonathan, and Christian watch the coffin of Anthony Varvaro leave Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Staten Island

he Braves have a moment of silence for former player, Anthony Varvaro, who was was killed on September 11, 2022 before the Friday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies on September 16, 2022

A rep for the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office told the Post on Monday that they conducted an internal investigation and referred the matter back to Port Authority ‘to be handled administratively.’

Varvaro’s family has been aware that the Port Authority was conducting an investigation, according to the Post.

A former Little League World Series star, Varvaro went on to pitch for St. John’s, where he also got a degree in criminal justice.

After undergoing elbow surgery in college, Varvaro was drafted by the Mariners in the 12th round of the MLB Draft.

He would go on to appear in 153 MLB games as a reliever, finishing his career in Boston at age 30 with a solid 3.23 career earned-run average.

Since his death, Varvaro has been honored by the Atlanta Braves, for whom he pitched for four seasons.