Crime & Safety

NYPD Auxiliary Cop Charged With Molesting Two Women in His Safety Classes: DA

An NYPD auxiliary cop allegedly molested women who took his CPR class and his security certification class at a private security firm.

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — An off-duty NYPD auxiliary cop was charged with multiple counts of forcible touching and sex abuse, officials said Friday. Aaron Weiss, 31, allegedly molested at least two women who took classes he taught at a private security firm—Epic Security Corp— on the Upper West Side, NY Daily News reports.

On Aug. 11, 2016, one victim alleged that Weiss pushed her against a desk and grabbed her breast and vagina with his hand, without her consent, the criminal complaint says. NY Daily News reports the 21-year-old woman was a student in his CPR training course. Weiss allegedly asked her to stay behind after the other students left, and then groped her against the desk.

Weiss also taught a security certification class to a group of five students. On Oct. 6, he allegedly discussed ways to handle stress with the class. Weiss asked a 25-year-old woman to come to the front of the classroom, and massaged her shoulders as he talked to the class about various massage techniques, according to NY Daily News.

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According to the criminal complaint, Weiss placed his hands under the woman's shirt and grabbed her breast, without her consent. NY Daily News said this occurred when the woman's back was to the class.

Weiss was suspended upon his arrest, police said.

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Mark Lerner, the Epic Security Corp. President, told NY Daily News that Weiss has worked at the security firm for less than a year. He was assigned to a traffic task force in 2014, and redirected traffic for parades and street fairs.

“Epic Security Corp. does not tolerate this type of sexual misconduct within the school or with its employees,” Lerner said. “We’ve been in business for 40 years and we’ve never had something like this happen before.”

Weiss was released on his own recognizance. His next court date is Dec. 15, officials said.

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