The NYPD announced a couple of surprising arrests last night: Two NYPD auxiliary officers were busted for allegedly robbing a food delivery man in a Manhattan building.
According to the police, the incident occurred on Wednesday, February 25, just after midnight. The victim, a 48-year-old deliveryman, brought food to an apartment at 220 East 102nd Street, where police say he "was met by two males in the lobby who displayed police shields and accompanied the victim, into the elevator, to the 14th floor."
The victim attempted to deliver the food to the listed apartment but the occupant stated that they did not order any food. The delivery man walked back to the elevator, where the two males were waiting, and was assaulted. The two suspects then forced the victim out of the elevator where they handcuffed him, with his hands behind his back, and removed his property ($180.00 , his wallet and iPhone 4S.)The suspects then fled the location, leaving the delivery man handcuffed in the stairwell. Officers responded to the location and removed the handcuffs from the deliveryman.
The Post says a neighbor found the deliveryman and contacted the police.
The NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau's Police Impersonation Unit investigated the robbery and later found that the two suspects were actually auxiliary police officers. James Kiernan, 22, and Jordan Martinez, also 22, were arrested last Friday and charged with robbery, burglary, unlawful imprisonment, criminal impersonation, assault and criminal mischief.
Auxiliary officers are unarmed volunteers who assist the police officers in various neighborhoods with things like traffic control, crowd control and even, in some cases, make arrests. According to the NYPD's website about the auxiliary program, "They are recruited, trained and equipped by the Police Department... [they] provide extra 'eyes and ears] for the Police Department by performing uniformed foot, vehicle and bicycle patrols. They are trained to observe and report conditions requiring the services of the regular police. Whenever possible, they assist in non-enforcement and non-hazardous duties."
In 2007, two auxiliary officers were killed while pursuing a gunman who had just killed a pizzeria employee in the West Village. At the time, the NY Times noted that auxiliary police received 64 hours of training over many months.
Police are asking for victims of similar incidents to contact the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau at 212-741-8401 or the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.
