Last month in New Hyde Park, New York, an off-duty New York Police Department officer was one of four individuals tragically killed when a drunk driver crashed into a nail salon on Long Island. Emilia Rennhack, 30, who had been a police officer since 2018, was laid to rest on Saturday. The funeral for Rennhack took place at a funeral home in New Hyde Park, where hundreds gathered to pay their respects, including numerous officers from the city police force. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain, described Rennhack as “the best of our city,” highlighting her dedication to serving others and her pursuit of the American dream after immigrating from Poland.
Rennhack’s husband, Carl Rennhack, spoke at the funeral, remembering his wife as a community pillar and expressing sorrow that they had many more plans for their future together. Emilia Rennhack, a resident of Deer Park, was stationed at a precinct in Queens, where her husband also worked as a detective. She was the sole customer who lost her life in the accident at the Hawaii Nail & Spa in Deer Park on June 28, which also claimed the lives of salon co-owner Jiancai Chen, and employees Yan Xu and Meizi Zhang, all from Queens. Additionally, nine other individuals sustained injuries in the crash.
The driver, Steven Schwally, 64, was allegedly speeding through the parking lot when he crashed his SUV into the salon. At his arraignment on Monday, Schwally pleaded not guilty to driving while intoxicated. Bail was set at $1 million cash, $2 million bond, or $5 million partially secured bond. Prosecutors revealed that Schwally told police he had consumed 18 beers the night before the crash and continued drinking until approximately 4 a.m. Schwally, a Marine Corps veteran who was residing in a local motel at the time of the incident, is scheduled to appear in court again on July 12.
