Robert Core to Start Prison Term on Thursday

Former Hempstead Public Safety Officer Robert Core, who's car struck and killed a pedestrian while he was allegedly driving intoxicated in July of 2011, will surrender to Nassau County Court on Thursday to serve a nine-month prison term, according to Nassau County Court officials.

Core was found guilty of aggravated drunken driving, a misdemeanor, and sentenced on Sept. 27.

According to detectives, Core, of Hempstead, was responding to an emergency call in Levittown when he struck Eddie Albert Cotto, 50, of Lindenhurst, who was crossing Hempstead Turnpike near Franklin Avenue. Core was driving a Town of Hempstead Public Safety Vehicle.

Cotto, was pronounced dead at Nassau University Medical Center upon arrival, police said.

Cops later found that Core drove an additional 150 feet after he hit Cotto. Core was charged with second-degree manslaughter and DWI. He was found not guilty of manslaughter in July 2012.

Shortly after Core's arrest, the Town of Hempstead fired him.

Core will also have three years probation and his license will be revoked for six months, according to the New York State Unified Court System website.

Michael Ganci contributed to this report.

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