Last week, a group of New York City detectives faced unexpected hostility when they were incorrectly identified as federal immigration agents at a hospital where they sought medical attention following an arrest.
According to the New York Post, the incident occurred when the officers visited NYU Langone/Cobble Hill Hospital in Brooklyn after engaging in a confrontation with a suspect involved in drug-related activities.
“The hospital staff were quite unfriendly to the officers in the waiting area, accusing them of being ICE agents and suggesting they find another hospital,” a source familiar with the situation revealed to the newspaper.
Reports indicate that the NYPD detectives, who were seeking care, were subjected to disrespectful treatment due to the mistaken identity as ICE agents. (Getty Images)
“The detectives clearly identified themselves,” another insider commented. “It’s disgraceful to even consider denying them care or suggesting they seek it elsewhere.”
An NYPD representative confirmed to Fox News Digital that the hospital has since issued an apology to Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch regarding the incident.
“Representatives from the hospital apologized to Commissioner Tisch and the NYPD and said hospital staff had a misunderstanding of their policy,” the spokesperson said. “Commissioner Tisch asked that all hospital staff be retrained to ensure that this type of incident never happens again.”
The hospital told Fox News Digital that it expressed “our regret for how the situation was handled and reaffirmed our commitment to continue providing the highest quality care to the New York Police Department and all law enforcement agencies” in a discussion with Tisch.Â
It noted that in 2025, NYU Langone provided care to nearly 1,000 NYPD officers.Â
“We provided care to the injured officer, who was asked to temporarily secure his weapon, as per our policy,” a hospital representative said. “The other two officers were allowed to keep their weapons. NYU Langone always values the opportunity to provide care to members of law enforcement.”
A refrigerated truck serving as makeshift morgue is seen outside of NYU Langone Health Cobble Hill. (Getty Images)
The hospital did not comment on the alleged references to ICE. The incident occurred as thousands of nurses across the city were on strike.
In a statement, the NYPD Detectives’ Endowment Association denounced the treatment of the officers.
“It is an outrage that any NYPD detective injured in the line of duty should have to worry about being treated at any hospital in the city they protect,” the group said. “As nurses across the city strike over issues like workplace safety, treating detectives poorly is not how to make hospitals safer.”
“No one—especially detectives injured in the line of duty—should face such treatment,” the association added.
Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, himself a former NYPD officer, also criticized the hospital and called on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to hold it accountable.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams on “The View” on November 15, 2024. (ABC/Screenshot)
“A hospital that politicizes emergency care is no longer a hospital. It’s an activist institution pretending to practice medicine,” Adams wrote on X. “These NYPD officers put their lives on the line. Medical staff are sworn to treat the injured, not pass political judgment. We send them into danger and then leave them bleeding when it’s inconvenient.”
