Contact: Sunny Mindel/Samantha I. Lugo (212) 788-2958
Marilyn Mode, NYPD (212) 374-6700
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Police Commissioner Howard Safir today honored retired New York City Police sergeant Eugene Assencao, who risked his life to confront three assailants, effectively stopping a robbery in progress in a 7-Eleven convenience store in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, early Sunday morning. Mr. Assencao received a Mayoral Citation for his heroism.
"Mr. Assencao did not hesitate to put his life on the line in order to help people in danger. His heroic actions typify the law enforcement professionals who have served the New York City Police Department and its Housing and Transit Bureaus in the past, and continue doing so today," Mayor Giuliani said. "Mr. Assencao's career inspired his nephew Roberto to follow in his footsteps as a police officer. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I thank Mr. Assencao for his service to the City and for his continuous example of selflessness and courage."
Mr. Assencao observed three perpetrators threatening the staff of the 7-Eleven at 3342 Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn, while on his rounds for an armored car company. After instructing his partner to call 911 on a cellular phone, Mr. Assencao entered the store with his registered handgun and ordered the gun-weilding perpetrator to drop his weapon. The lookout fled, but the armed assailant aimed his gun at Mr. Assencao's head. The former police officer shot him in the stomach, causing the third perpetrator to flee. Two semi-automatic handguns were recovered at the scene. The accused perpetrators were charged with robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and menacing.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, Mr. Assencao was a member of the New York City Housing Authority Police from 1973 to 1988. He had been awarded sixteen Excellent Police Duty Medals and three Meritorious Police Duty Medals. A Brooklyn resident, Mr. Assencao currently works at the Rapid Armored Corporation.