NYPD Officer Charged After Allegedly Pointing Gun At Colleague

NEW YORK, NY— NYPD officer Quilbvio Espinal was arraigned on an indictment charging him with menacing in the second degree and official misconduct after prosecutors said he pointed a firearm at a colleague inside One Police Plaza.

“Nobody should have to experience the kind of menacing and dangerous behavior alleged in this troubling incident," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.

The case stems from a March 26 incident inside the NYPD’s Information Security Office, where Espinal worked, according to a statement of facts filed in court.

Prosecutors said Espinal was seated at a shared workstation shortly after noon when he and a civilian colleague were speaking with another coworker who later returned to her desk across the room.

Roughly 15 minutes later, Espinal stood up and drew his NYPD-authorized off-duty firearm, pointing it toward a civilian employee identified in court documents as Civilian #2, according to the filing.

He allegedly raised the weapon slowly until it pointed toward the ceiling, then lowered it again while keeping it oriented toward the colleague, prosecutors said.

Espinal then returned to his seat, reholstered the weapon at his waistband, and later removed both the firearm and holster, placing them in another coworker’s desk drawer despite her objection, according to the statement of facts. Prosecutors said he later left the firearm in that drawer before returning to his office.

The employee reported the incident to a supervisor later that day, prompting an Internal Affairs Bureau investigation.

Espinal was suspended, and his service weapons were seized before he was placed under arrest, authorities said.

He was released on his own recognizance at arraignment and is subject to an order of protection. Espinal is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 10.