STATEN ISLAND, NY – An off-duty New York City Police Department detective was arrested Thursday morning on Staten Island and charged with an illegal weapons offense, authorities said.

Police identified the officer as 36-year-old Anthony Sciortino, a detective assigned to the NYPD.

The arrest took place at 8:25 a.m. within the confines of the 120th Precinct, which covers the St. George area.

Key Points

Off-duty NYPD Detective Anthony Sciortino was arrested Thursday morning in Staten Island.
The 36-year-old detective faces a charge of criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon.
The arrest occurred within the 120th Precinct at approximately 8:25 a.m.

NYPD confirms internal investigation

An NYPD spokesperson confirmed Sciortino’s arrest and said the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau has opened an investigation into the incident. The spokesperson declined to provide details about the alleged weapon transaction or whether it involved an unauthorized firearm.

Administrative action pending

Sources said Sciortino has been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the criminal case and departmental review. The NYPD routinely places officers on modified or suspended status when facing serious charges involving firearms or misconduct.

Charge details under review

Under New York State law, the charge of criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon generally applies to individuals accused of unlawfully buying, selling, or transferring firearms outside authorized channels. Officials have not yet disclosed whether the incident involved an undercover operation or a private transaction.

Department policy and oversight

The arrest underscores the department’s continued enforcement of internal accountability measures. The NYPD has maintained that all officers — on or off duty — are held to the same legal standards as civilians when it comes to firearm laws.

Sciortino’s case has been referred to the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.