Photo courtesy of the FDNY via Flickr
Bronx District Attorney, Darcel D. Clark, announced on Wednesday, Sept. 21, that Jose Gonzalez has been found fit to stand trial for the alleged murder of EMT, Yadira Arroyo. Gonzalez, as reported, had been found unfit for trial on May 26, 2022, to the dismay of Arroyo’s family.
In a statement referring to the latest update on the case, Clark said, “When Jose Gonzalez was deemed unfit for trial, we said this was by no means the end of this prosecution. Now, approximately four months later, health professionals at Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center have determined him to be no longer an incapacitated person.”
She added, “Jose Gonzalez is due to appear in Bronx Supreme Court on Sept. 29. He faces charges of first and second-degree murder, first degree manslaughter, robbery, vehicular manslaughter and operating a motor vehicle under the influence, for allegedly running over Yadira Arroyo, an FDNY emergency medical technician, with her ambulance on March 16, 2017.”
Clark had previously vowed to continue efforts to prosecute Gonzalez for allegedly killing Arroyo, after the May 26 ruling.
As reported, Arroyo was killed in the Unionport section of The Bronx in the line of duty on March 16, 2017, when she was struck and killed by the impact of her own ambulance while attempting to stop the vehicle’s theft during an emergency response. Clark said of the judge’s May ruling, “For more than five years, we have worked to get justice for Yadira Arroyo. Her family and FDNY colleagues have been steadfast through their sorrow, attending every court appearance – and there have been 75 – hoping to see the defendant, Jose Gonzalez, stand trial.”
The district attorney continued at that time, adding, “Today, Bronx Supreme Court Justice, Martin Marcus, ruled that the defendant is not fit to proceed to trial on charges of first and second-degree Murder, first degree Manslaughter, Robbery, Vehicular Manslaughter and Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence for allegedly running Yadi down with her ambulance on March 16, 2017.”
She concluded at the time, saying, “We had hoped to try the defendant in a court of law. The defendant will be sent to a psychiatric facility until he is deemed fit to stand trial. This by no means is the end of this prosecution. The family and community can take some comfort that he will be off the streets and unable to harm anyone, until such time we can bring him to trial.”
Last year, on May 27, as reported, friends and family members of the late EMT were joined by community members and elected officials to officially rename Blackrock Playground in Unionport, in her honor. The park is located one block from where Arroyo was killed.
On June 14, 2018, then fire commissioner, Daniel A. Nigro, and union representatives announced that all FDNY ambulances would have signs prominently displayed in multiple locations promoting strong penalties for assaults against EMS personnel. The first ambulances to receive the new signs were assigned to Station 26 in The Bronx, where Arroyo was killed.
“These new images on our ambulances are visible reminders to all that FDNY EMTs and Paramedics perform dangerous, life-saving work every single day; and anyone who interferes with that work by assaulting our members faces a severe punishment,” said Nigro at the time. “The men and women of EMS work incredibly hard to care for all New Yorkers; they deserve our protection and respect.”
Photo courtesy of the FDNY
The text on the signs reads as follows: “FDNY EMTs and Paramedics Are Protected by NEW YORK STATE LAW. Assault is a Felony Punishable by 7 years in prison.”
Oren Barzilay, president of Local 2507, Uniformed EMTs, Paramedics, and Fire Inspectors, said at the time, “The EMTs and Paramedics are out there to help the public in their time of crisis. Assaulting them while they perform their duties is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. They deserve to be protected by all means.” He added, “We’re thankful for the FDNY and Commissioner Nigro for taking a crucial step with protecting our members.”
His words were echoed by Vincent Variale, president of Local 3621, Uniformed EMS Officers Union, who said, “It is important that the general public be made aware that an assault on any uniformed Officer/EMT/Medic of the FDNY EMS command while in performance of their life saving duties will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.” Variale added, “We are thankful for the department in being proactive and responding to our members concerns in regards to their well-being and safety.”
Officials confirmed at the time that as of June 2018, there had been 87 instances of EMTs, Paramedics and EMS officers being attacked while on-duty. In 2017, 166 assaults were reported. Norwood News contacted the FDNY for an update on the latest figures in more recent years. The department provided the following breakdown:
Patient to FDNY Employee Workplace Violence Incidents
2018: 107
2019: 142
2020: 226
2021: 237
Member of the Public to FDNY Employee Workplace Violence Incidents
2018: 22
2019: 49
2020: 65
2021:126
The law strengthening penalties for assaults against EMS personnel was first introduced in 2015 by State Sen. Martin J. Golden, chair of the New York Senate civil service and pensions committee, and was signed into law by then Gov. Andrew Cuomo on November 20, 2015. The law took effect on February 18, 2016.
On May 23, Mayor Eric Adams honored firefighters from the recent Sunset Park subway shooting in Brooklyn at City Hall.
Arroyo’s funeral took place on March 25, 2017, in The Bronx, after several days of public mourning and remembrance. In a statement on behalf of the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA), president, James Slevin, referred to Arroyo’s tragic death, saying at the time, “This week, we will lay to rest one of the City’s best. We continue to mourn the loss of Emergency Medical Technician, Yadira Arroyo, who was killed in the line of duty on the night of March 16th. Arroyo was appointed to the FDNY as an EMT in August of 2003, and was assigned to EMS Station 26 in The Bronx, where she served for 14 years.
He continued, “We lost a hero. She was a brave woman who was responding to a call for help, something she has dedicated her life to for the last 14 years. EMT Arroyo’s death is a tragic reminder that firefighters, EMTs and all first responders deal with dangerous situations every day.”
According to Slevin, Arroyo, who lived in The Bronx, was survived by her five sons, Jose Montes, 23; Edgar Montes, 22; Kenneth Robles, 19; Justin Robles, 16; and Isaiah Negron, 7; her parents, mother, Laida Acevedo-Rosado, and father, Luis Arroyo, Sr.; her siblings, Joell Arroyo and Luis Arroyo, Jr.; and numerous other relatives, including her stepfather, Efrain Rosado, and nine aunts and uncles.
Photo courtesy of NYC Parks / Malcolm Pinckney
On behalf of the UFA executive board and union membership, Slevin extended his condolences at the time to the members of Arroyo’s family, the members of the companies that she served with, and “brothers and sisters at the Uniformed, EMTs, Paramedics & Fire Inspectors F.D.N.Y. Local 2507.”
He concluded, “Her courage, commitment and sacrifice to service will never be forgotten.”
Of the latest announcement, Clark concluded her latest statement, saying, “We thank her family and FDNY colleagues for their patience and support, as we continue to obtain justice for Yadi.”
A person accused of a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.
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