An NYPD officer has been fired after a departmental judge found he hit his girlfriend’s aunt and repeatedly knocked her phone out of her hand to stop her from dialing 911, according to internal records filed this winter. The panel pointed to photos, an audio interview and message transcripts in reaching a decision that effectively ends a roughly decade-long policing career.
A departmental judge found Police Officer Harry Espinal guilty on five specifications and recommended he be terminated, according to NYPD. The memorandum, which summarizes an October 2025 disciplinary hearing, explains why the tribunal concluded the department had met its burden and urges that Espinal’s employment be ended.
Espinal was arrested after the July 31, 2023 altercation and booked in Queens, local reporting at the time said. He was assigned to Brooklyn’s 88th Precinct when the incident occurred, according to coverage by QNS. Early records show he faced assault and criminal mischief charges following the call for service.
Inside the Tribunal’s Evidence File
The tribunal’s memorandum describes an audio interview with the complainant, photographs showing bruising and a cracked phone camera, and text messages the panel found probative. The judge concluded Espinal struck the woman multiple times and hit her phone out of her hand, conduct the panel said prevented her from calling 911. Those conclusions appear in the NYPD’s written disciplinary decision.
Criminal Case Stalls While Department Moves Ahead
Prosecutors later declined to pursue the criminal case, and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch signed off on Espinal’s dismissal on Jan. 23, 2026, according to New York Daily News. That reporting also quoted defense commentary about the evidentiary challenges when a complainant does not testify and noted the different standards that govern criminal prosecutions and departmental trials.
Tribunal’s Legal Findings
Beyond the physical-assault findings, the tribunal concluded Espinal violated an order of protection and attempted to interfere with a witness by contacting a relative and suggesting he could influence an immigration matter if the complainant dropped the case. Those conduct findings are administrative violations that the tribunal said warranted discipline even where prosecutors did not pursue conviction. The panel recommended termination under department rules.
Oversight Stakes And What Comes Next
Defense attorneys told reporters that absent complainants often make criminal prosecutions harder, a reality that can lead to very different outcomes in court and at internal hearings. Civil-oversight experts note the police commissioner retains the final authority over discipline and that the broader oversight process can shape whether recommended sanctions stick, a dynamic explored in a recent analysis by Bolts.
Espinal’s case is likely to be cited in ongoing debates about how the NYPD balances administrative discipline, criminal prosecutions and civilian oversight. Community groups and legal observers will be watching whether the department’s final actions prompt any policy changes or further legal filings in the weeks ahead.
