An on-duty FDNY firefighter was arrested Wednesday after allegedly punching an NYPD officer in the face inside Queens Hospital Center in Jamaica, Queens, turning what should have been a routine day on the job into a criminal case.
Police identified the firefighter as Abel Sencion and said he has been charged with second-degree assault, a felony. The officer, identified as Philip Vallon, reported minor pain and swelling but was not seriously hurt, according to court papers. Authorities have not said why the two uniformed city workers were together at the hospital when the encounter allegedly turned physical.
Sencion, who joined the FDNY in 2023 and is assigned to Engine Company 277 in Bushwick, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. His bail was set at $5,000, according to the New York Daily News. The criminal complaint alleges Vallon was struck in the face during what is described as an unprovoked encounter at the hospital on Wednesday.
In a statement to the New York Daily News, FDNY officials said Sencion "will be suspended from duty for 28 days" while the department reviews the incident. The FDNY added that its administrative review will proceed separately from the criminal case as investigators and prosecutors continue gathering evidence.
What the charge means
Second-degree assault in New York is a Class D felony under Penal Law §120.05 and can carry significant prison time if a conviction follows, particularly when the alleged victim is a public servant. The statute is outlined on Justia, and Class D felonies generally carry a maximum sentence of up to seven years, depending on the subsection and a defendant’s prior record.
What we know so far
According to police, the alleged assault happened on the Queens Hospital Center campus on 164th Street in Jamaica. Prosecutors and FDNY leadership have not released additional details about why both men were at the hospital at the same time, and the Queens district attorney's office had not issued a public statement as of the initial reporting.
What’s next
Sencion is due back in Queens Criminal Court as the case moves through the charging process and the FDNY continues its internal review. This story will be updated as prosecutors, the NYPD, and the FDNY release more information or when new court dates are scheduled.
