An NYPD lieutenant has been fired after refusing to answer questions from internal investigators about a suspected arson at his Long Island home, department records show.
Lt. Javier Rodriguez, a 20-year veteran assigned to the Criminal Enterprise Investigation Section, was dismissed by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch effective Oct. 31, according to documents posted online this week.
The fire occurred on Sept. 19 at Rodriguez’s East Meadow home, where he lived with his wife, who is also an NYPD officer, according to department records. Rodriguez’s wife reported him missing in the immediate aftermath of the blaze and he was later found on an Amtrak train in Baltimore, the records state. Members of his unit drove him back to New York.
Nassau County Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro said investigators have not ruled out suspicious causes.
“Because it involves a police officer from another jurisdiction,” Uttaro said, “Nassau County Police’s arson-bomb squad and the New York City police department’s detectives, they’re working the fine details of this case as to exactly what transpired.”
When the NYPD’s internal affairs bureau learned the couple may have had a verbal dispute before the fire, it scheduled an official interview with Rodriguez for Oct. 22, records show. At the interview, Rodriguez was informed he was being questioned about an “allegation of arson” and warned that refusing to answer could result in his dismissal.
Rodriguez refused to answer any questions, even after an inspector directly ordered him to do so, according to departmental records of the interview.
Rodriguez did not appear at his Oct. 27 disciplinary trial, which proceeded in his absence. His attorney had previously told the court that Rodriguez would not attend and was attempting to submit retirement papers, prompting the department to expedite the proceedings.
NYPD officers generally receive their full pension after reaching 20 years of service unless they are convicted of a crime. Rodriguez passed the 20-year mark in July.
State records show that Rodriguez earned $262,000 in 2025 and averaged $229,000 over the last five years.
Rodriguez had no prior disciplinary record and was highly decorated, having received a Medal for Valor, 27 medals for Meritorious Police Duty and 12 medals for Excellent Police Duty, department records show.
Calls to Rodriguez’s attorney were not returned. His union representative declined to comment.
