{"active":false,"first_name":"Nicholas","last_name":"Kowatch","race":"White","gender":"Male","rank":"DT3","command":{"command":"NARCBBX","assignment_date":"2019-10-14"},"shield_no":1299,"ended_date":"2021-11-20","taxid":"951884","complaint_ids":[201908277,201804029,201402927],"command_history":[{"command":"PSA 3","id":"PSA3"},{"command":"NARCBBN","id":"92"}],"appt_date":"2012-01-09","middle_initial":"M","shield_no_history":[9969],"lawsuits":[{"name":"Suren, Ismael Joel, et al. vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2019-05-16","disposition_date":"2022-09-26","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"Zero Disposition","docket":"19CV02659","court":"U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY","officer_name":"Kowatch, Nicholas","summary":"On Feb 19, 2018, plaintiffs were at home when 14 police officers, without a warrant, broke into the apartment with guns drawn. Officers pointed their guns at plaintiff Edjar Joel Suren, who was 17, arrested him and placed him in handcuffs. Officers then grabbed plaintiff Lucia Santigao, 65, off her bed and handcuffed her. Officers then grabbed plaintiff Ismael Suren, Jr. and handcuffed him as well. Officers asked where the \"guns and drugs\" were, which plaintiffs denied having. They then asked where Nelson Santiago was, and plaintiff Lucia stated he did not live with her. Officers had her call Nelson and he came to the house, where plaintiff Nelson was then arrested and searched. Family members Edgardo Suren and Ismaal Joel Suren went to the residence and they too were arrested and asked about guns and drugs. \nOfficers searched the entire apartment without a warrant. Officers found a vial which contained Ismael Suren Jr's father's ashes but officers accused the plaintiffs of having heroin. plaintiffs were then all taken to the precinct, where they were detained for many hours. All charges against plaintiffs were ultimately dismissed. Plaintiffs have demanded police return the ashes of the Late Miguel Santiago and Lucia Santiago lost her rent money of $1600 in the search.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.432891/gov.uscourts.nyed.432891.15.0_1.pdfon","type":"complaint"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/15058251/suren-v-city-of-new-york/"},{"name":"Smith, Verna vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2018-09-06","disposition_date":"2021-12-23","payout_amount":30000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"509858/2018","court":"Supreme Court - Kings","officer_name":"Kowatch, Nicholas","summary":"On February 11, 2017 at approximately 7:30 am, Plaintiff Verna Smith was at her apartment when Defendants entered her apartment without any legal justification and searched Plaintiff and her apartment without any probable cause. Plaintiff was handcuffed and taken to the PSA 3 precinct and was unlwaafully searched, photographed, fingerprinted and placed in a holding cell and was then transported at 10 pm to Kings County Central Booking and placed in a holding cell. Defendants gave the D.A. false, misleading or incomplete information saying that Plaintiff was in possesion custody or control of controlled substances and which led a prosecution to be brought against the plaintiff. Plaintiff was unlawfully charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 5th and 7th degrees and Criminal Using Drug Paraphernalia. The charges against Plaintiff were dismissed and sealed in ther entirety. Because of the unlawful search of Plaintiff's apartment Plaintiff's jewelery and cash were stolen from her apartment, incurred significant property damage, suffered psychological and emotional injuries, and missed 3 days of work. Plaintiff is suing for a violation of her 4th, 5th and 14th amendment rights, false arrest and imprisonment, unlawful search, malicious prosecution, negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligent hiring/ retention/ training, violation of Plaintiff's fifth and fourteenth amendment right and denial of right to fair trial/ due process and failure to intervene.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=ZFjGug80IFRHXV6CiInGMg==","type":"complaint"}]}],"discipline":[{"case_no":"2013-9964","disposition_date":"2014-03-13","penalty":"Dismissal of charge and specification and issuance of instructions","opened_date":"2013-07-10","charges":[{"desc":"While on sick report, left his residence and traveled to New Jersey without permission after having been advised by a Supervisor that he was not permitted to do so","disposition":"Guilty"}],"documents":[{"name":"Document","url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4419141-nypd-cases-414.html"}]}],"documents":[{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24441170-bronx-notified-officers-list-edited_redacted-redacted_redacted","type":"credibility-finding"}],"id":"GWQZ","url":"https://www.50-a.org/officer/GWQZ"}