A extremely embellished NYPD lieutenant and his patrol-cop spouse have been fired by the division’s prime cop after refusing to reply questions on a suspicious blaze at their Lengthy Island dwelling, information present.
Veteran Officer Javier Rodriguez and his NYPD partner, Tanya Rodriguez, have been booted by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch in October after stonewalling the probe right into a Sept. 19 hearth that torched their East Meadow dwelling and prompted Tanya to report her husband lacking, based on newly launched division disciplinary information.
Javier was later discovered on an Amtrak prepare in Baltimore and introduced again to New York Metropolis by police, the disciplinary information mentioned.
“Nassau County authorities initially thought it may be {an electrical} hearth — nonetheless, it was subsequently realized that [Javier] and his spouse might have had a verbal dispute previous to the fireplace,” the information mentioned — including that the husband was “suspected of probably setting the fireplace” whereas his partner was thought of a witness.
Throughout Javier’s internal-affairs hearings, the 20-year NYPD veteran “respectfully refused” to reply any questions whereas his spouse gave inconsistent solutions earlier than finally following her husband’s actions, the information acknowledged.
Each cops have been then suspended earlier than later being tried in absentia, discovered responsible of failing to reply questions and disobeying direct orders to take action. They have been fired after neither confirmed as much as their division trials, based on the information.
The married cops had spotless disciplinary information up until that time.
Tanya has been a patrol officer since 2006, whereas Javier was a longtime lieutenant who labored in a gang violence command and earned dozens of commendations — together with a 2009 Medal for Valor, which is among the many division’s most prestigious awards for bravery.
In September, Nassau County Hearth Marshal Michael Uttaro, who’s investigating the blaze, mentioned authorities haven’t dominated not dominated out foul play. A rep for the county didn’t reply to a Publish request for touch upon an replace within the investigation.
Nassau police haven’t introduced up any fees in reference to the fireplace as of Tuesday.
The couple couldn’t be reached for remark.
