Retired Elmont cop fires shots in home

A retired New York City Police officer was overwhelmed by fear in his home on Saturday, and started firing a gun in his house, according to police.

The incident erupted at 8:43 a.m. last Saturday morning, when Frank Heitmann, 65, a retired NYPD officer, brandished his gun and told his family and a tenant to leave his home on Bauer Court in Elmont, according to police and published reports.

Just before 9 p.m. on Saturday, Heitmann brandished a gun, for which he is licensed, and told his wife, step-daughter and a tenant who rents a room in the house to get out and flee because of a fear that there was an intruder inside. Once the other residents were out of range, Heitmann fired the gun in several rooms of the house, startling neighbors and eliciting 911 calls.

The Nassau County Hostage Negotiations Team was dispatched, along with several other special units, and tried to make contact with Heitmann over the phone and with the help of a remote control communications unit. After a few hours, Heitmann allowed officers to come inside and disarm him, after he had been convinced there were no intruders in his home, and he went peacefully to a local hospital for an evaluation.

Published reports said that neighbors had noticed Heitmann in failing health recently.

Despite the gunshots, no one was injured during the incident. Police have declined to file charges in conjunction with an investigation.