A highly decorated NYPD lieutenant and his patrol-cop wife have been fired by the department’s top cop after refusing to answer questions about a suspicious blaze at their Long Island home, records show.
Veteran Officer Javier Rodriguez and his NYPD spouse, Tanya Rodriguez, were booted by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch in October after stonewalling the probe into a Sept. 19 fire that torched their East Meadow home and prompted Tanya to report her husband missing, according to newly released department disciplinary records.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch fired a married cop couple for stonewalling investigators after a fire at their home, records show. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post
Firefighters battle the blaze at the Rodriguezes’ East Meadow home on Sept. 19. East Meadow Fire DepartmentJavier was later found on an Amtrak train in Baltimore and brought back to New York City by police, the disciplinary records said.
“Nassau County authorities initially thought it might be an electrical fire — however, it was subsequently learned that [Javier] and his wife may have had a verbal dispute prior to the fire,” the records said. They adding that the husband was “suspected of possibly setting the fire” while his spouse was considered a witness.
During Javier’s internal affairs hearings, the 20-year NYPD veteran “respectfully refused” to answer any questions while his wife gave inconsistent answers before eventually following her husband’s actions, the records stated.
Both cops were then suspended before later being tried in absentia, found guilty of failing to answer questions and disobeying direct orders to do so. They were fired after neither showed up to their department trials, according to the records.
Tanya Rodriguez reported her husband missing after the fire tore through their East Meadow home. East Meadow Fire Department
Nassau County authorities initially thought it might be an electrical fire, according to records. East Meadow Fire DepartmentThe married cops had spotless disciplinary records up to that point.
Tanya has been a patrol officer since 2006, while Javier was a longtime lieutenant who worked in a gang violence command and earned dozens of commendations — including a 2009 Medal for Valor, which is among the department’s most prestigious awards for bravery.
East Meadow firefighters respond to the damaged home that was devastated by flames. East Meadow Fire Department
The married officers’ home in East Meadow, LI, burned up in a September fire that officials are investigating as suspicious. Google MapsIn September, Nassau County Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro, who is investigating the blaze, said authorities haven’t ruled out foul play. A rep for the county did not respond to a Post request for comment on an update in the investigation.
Nassau police had not brought up any charges in connection with the fire as of Tuesday.
The couple could not be reached for comment.
