Mayor Zohran Mamdani presided over the FDNY Medal Day ceremony on June 3, 2026, where members of the FDNY Bureau of Fire Prevention Special Inspections Unit were honored after officers discovered an illegal medical clinic in Queens, found an unresponsive patient, identified the practitioner, and coordinated with NYPD and U.S. Customs leading to the practitioner’s arrest at an airport on March 28, 2025. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
# What’s happening
– FDNY Special Inspections Unit entered an illegal medical clinic in Queens on March 28, 2025. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
– NYPD and U.S. Customs detained and arrested the identified practitioner at an airport as he tried to flee. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=6373
# Why it matters
– Patients at the clinic and nearby residents faced risks from unlicensed medical procedures and unsecured medications. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
– FDNY, NYPD, and federal agents coordinated to prevent a suspected practitioner from leaving the country. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=6373
# Key details
– Date of incident: March 28, 2025. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
– Location cited as Queens Box 7606. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
– FDNY Bureau of Fire Prevention Special Inspections Unit investigated the site. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
– Engine Company 312 initially responded to a medical call and found an unresponsive woman. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
– Inspectors found medical devices and medication indicating illegal medical activity. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
– U.S. Customs detained and arrested the practitioner at the airport as he tried to leave the country. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=6373
FDNY Bureau of Fire Prevention Special Inspections Unit
– Role or jurisdiction: FDNY unit that enforces fire code and inspects facilities for illegal operations.
– Action taken: Investigated a suspected illegal medical facility at Queens Box 7606 and gained entry.
– Relevant date: March 28, 2025. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
Chief Inspector Joseph Rogers; Deputy Chief Inspector Jose Martinez; Supervisory Inspector Steven Barers
– Role or jurisdiction: Senior inspectors in the FDNY Bureau of Fire Prevention Special Inspections Unit.
– Action taken: Led the investigation and interagency notifications at the illegal clinic.
– Recognition: Awarded the inaugural Triangle Shirt Waist Fire Memorial Medal at the June 3, 2026 ceremony. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
At the FDNY Medal Day ceremony on June 3, 2026, officials described how the Special Inspections Unit responded to a referral from Division 14 to investigate a possible illegal medical facility. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
Engine Company 312 had earlier responded to a medical call at that address and found an unresponsive woman undergoing a procedure. The woman was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
Inspectors Martinez and Barers met NYPD at the location. The front door was locked but someone was seen inside; inspectors entered through an open rear door because of the emergency circumstances. Inside, they found medical devices and medication that indicated illegal medical activity. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
The Special Inspections Unit notified NYC Emergency Management, the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene (as referenced at the meeting), Engine Company 312, and FDNY paramedics; NYPD responded as well. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
Inspectors identified the individual who performed the procedure, and that individual fled the scene. NYPD detectives considered him a flight risk. U.S. Customs detained and arrested the individual at an airport as he attempted to leave the country. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=6373
Follow-up reporting confirmed from the meeting record
– Confirmed: Inspectors found medical devices and medication and an unresponsive patient taken to the hospital in serious condition. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
– Confirmed: Inspectors identified the practitioner, the practitioner fled, and U.S. Customs detained and arrested him at an airport. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=6373
– Not confirmed by the meeting record: Any criminal charges filed against the practitioner, the practitioner’s court arraignment status, specific public-health citations, or prosecutorial actions. The meeting transcript does not report charges or court proceedings. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=6373
The Department awarded the Triangle Shirt Waist Fire Memorial Medal to Chief Inspector Joseph Rogers, Deputy Chief Inspector Jose Martinez, and Supervisory Inspector Steven Barers for the Special Inspections Unit’s actions. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
What remains to be confirmed through additional reporting
– Whether federal or state charges were filed, the case docket number, arraignment dates, and current court status. (Not in the meeting record.) Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=6373
– Any public-health enforcement actions or follow-up inspections by the Department of Health or other agencies beyond notifications described at the ceremony. (Not in the meeting record.) Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
Reporting notes
– This article is based solely on remarks at the FDNY Medal Day ceremony streamed by the Mayor’s Office and does not incorporate additional police reports, court filings, or Department of Health records. Source: https://youtu.be/0LmIyPsoRKI&t=4606
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