{"active":true,"first_name":"Christopher","last_name":"Distefano","race":"White","gender":"Male","rank":"PO","command":{"command":"POL LAB","assignment_date":"2026-05-09","id":"78"},"shield_no":23840,"taxid":"950332","complaint_ids":[201708966,201504762,201501832,201209326],"command_history":[{"command":"MOUNTED","id":"1"},{"command":"PBQS","id":"PBQS"},{"command":"102 PCT","id":"102pct"}],"appt_date":"2011-07-06","middle_initial":"M","lawsuits":[{"name":"Mccormick, Howard vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2020-08-27","disposition_date":"2025-01-17","payout_amount":200000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"713542/2020","court":"Supreme Court - Queens","officer_name":"Distefano, Christopher","summary":"On or about May 23, 2017, in Queens County, New York, Howard McCormick was forcibly seized, detained, handcuffed, and arrested by NYPD Officers Dennis Lopez and Christopher Distefano, without (1) a warrant (2) probable cause (3) reasonable suspicion of a crim. activity. Following his arrest, the officers initiated a criminal prosecution based on false statements and withheld exculpatory evidence, leading to McCormick's wrongful incarceration for over one year. NYPD Sergeant Kevin Bischoff was aware of the misconduct and failed to intervene, condoning the officers' illegal actions. \n\nMcCormick was eventually found not guilty of all charges after a jury trial on July 15, 2019, and the charges were dismissed. As a result, he suffered significant physical, emotional, and financial harm.","documents":[{"url":"https://web.archive.org/web/20240919142639/https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/web/20240919142639/https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=cAXpaXBhoi4yEou_PLUS_lN52PQ==","type":"complaint"}]},{"name":"Bermudez, Robinson vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2015-06-30","disposition_date":"2019-01-16","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"Order/Judgment (Verdict)","docket":"15CV03240","court":"U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY","officer_name":"DiStefano, Christopher","summary":"Defendant officer used excessive physical force when arresting Plaintiff resulting in permanent scars and injuries.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.371037/gov.uscourts.nyed.371037.36.0.pdf","type":"complaint"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5714087/bermudez-v-michael/"}],"image":"https://www.50-a.org/images/officer/95M5-christopher-distefano.jpg","payroll":{"salary":"109352","regular":"108510","overtime":"35063","other":"19605","total":"163179"},"id":"95M5","url":"https://www.50-a.org/officer/95M5"}