{"active":false,"first_name":"Elias","last_name":"Nikas","race":"White","gender":"Male","rank":"INSP","command":{"command":"PBMS","assignment_date":"2019-07-03","id":"PBMS"},"ended_date":"2026-01-02","taxid":"902105","complaint_ids":[202305363,202004123,200900106,200208001],"command_history":[{"command":"060 PCT","id":"60pct"},{"command":"040 PCT","id":"40pct"}],"appt_date":"1992-06-30","age":61,"middle_initial":"J","shield_no_history":[13498,4192],"lawsuits":[{"name":"Hallinan, Andrew vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2026-06-03","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"26CV04381","court":"U.S. District Court - Southern District NY"},{"name":"Kelly, Lisa vs City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2024-10-01","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"157142/2024","court":"Supreme Court - New York","summary":"On May 6, 2023, Plaintiff participated in a protest in Manhattan to raise awareness for the murder of Jordan Neely. The protest had a march, which began from the subway station where Neely was murdered and ended around Bryant Park. At around 6:30PM, Plaintiff entered the Lexington-63rd Street subway with other fellow protestors—around this time, the protest had ended. Defendant Officer’s entered the station and surrounded the train platform. Plaintiff was standing peacefully on the train platform when Defendant NYPD Inspector Elias A. Nikas commanded a group of NYPD officers to arrest the protestors. Defendant Officer’s began shoving protestors.  Defendant Captain Abhraham Badillo, Defendant Sergeant David Lamarre, and other Defendant Officers grabbed Plaintiff and threw her to the platform floor before assaulting her. They picked Plaintiff up from the ground before dropping her again. Defendant Captain Badillo wrapped his arm around her neck and choked her from behind. Metal handcuffs were then placed on Plaintiff, who was layign face-down on the floor of the platform. A group of people began taking photos and the Defendant Officer’s removed her face mask so her face would be visible. A female Defendant Officers searched Plaintiff publicly, placing her hands under Plaintiff’s bra and between her legs. \n\nPlaintiff had to wait inside of the vehicle for an hour as they located her arresting officer. Plaintiff informed Defendant Officer’s that she was beginning to lose feeling in her right shoulder and left wrist. They refused to loosen Ms. Kelly’s handcuffs or offer her any form of medical aid. The Defendant Officer’s then went through Plaintiff’s phone, reading her text message notifications out loud. Another search was performed again, with Plaintiff’s bra being snapped. Male Defendant Officers watched the search and laughed. Plaintiff once again requested medical attention and they refused to provide it, as well as advising her against seeking medical attention. On May 7, 2023, at around 4AM, Plaintiff was released and issued a Desk Appearance Ticket, which listed NYPD Officer Steven Oquendo as her arresting officer, although he was not present during Plaintiff’s arrest. Plaintiff went to an emergency department of a hospital and was diagnosed with a fracture in her left wrist and a concussion. The New York County Office of the District Attorney declined to prosecute the plaintiff.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=xYn8qI9rnnX6r1uRAB05uA==","type":"complaint"}]},{"name":"Besuden, Nicolle vs City of Ny","start_date":"2021-12-09","disposition_date":"2023-05-02","payout_amount":150000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"21CV08452","court":"U.S. District Court - Southern District NY","summary":"On July 4th 2020, Plaintiff attended a march in Foley Square for black and queer lives. At the protest, Police Officer John Doe 1 and 2 hit Plaintiff multiple times and knocked over several others with batons. While Plaintiff tried to help up a fallen protestor, Officer John Doe 2 ran towards Plaintiff and swung a baton down on their outstretched arm, then next over their left shoulder, resulting in a fractured elbow.\nOn July 28th 2020, Plaintiff was at an Occupy City Hall encampment. Police officers arrived on bikes and forced the dispersion of protestors into Madison Square Park. Protestors were told to get on the sidewalk and Plaintiff complied. NYPD Deputy Inspector Elias J. Nikkas pushed Plaintiff into the street and ordered another unknown officer to arrest Plaintiff. The plaintiff was then arrested.\nOn July 30th, Plaintiff was walking through Foley Square and was stopped by Inspector Elias J. Nikkas. He asked Plaintiff \"how was the beach\", a reference to an Instagram post on Plaintiff's account. Nikkas' remark reminded Plaintiff of NYPD surveillance.\nOn August 11, 2020, Plaintiff was in Washington Square Park when officer Captain O’Hare approached and said, \"time to go Nicky\", and walked on.\nOn September 29, 2020, Plaintiff was protesting outside Governor Andrew Cuomo's office at 633 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017.  Police Officer John Doe 3 asked protestors to leave at 11:00pm. He put Plaintiff in a headlock with his baton and dragged her to the ground. Four other officers including Police Officer John Doe 4,5,6, jumped onto Plaintiff and held her down as Police Officer John Doe  3 choked her.  Police Officers John Doe 4 and John Doe 5 put their knees into Plaintiffs back and leg to hold her down for several minutes. They arrested and detained Plaintiff for over 24 hours.\nOn October 5, 2020, Plaintiff was attending a protest at Seaport. Plaintiff was on the sidewalk when Lieutenant Michele Irizarry dragged Plaintiff off the sidewalk by the hair, then arrested Plaintiff. Earlier the same officer had asked, \"Hi Nicolle, having a good night?\" and upon questioning followed with, \"Everyone knows your fucking name.\" \nOn October 17, 2020, Plaintiff attended a protest at Washington Square Park. Police Officer Captain Julio Delgado was smoking a cigar. Plaintiff asked why the officer was smoking a cigar against code, and he ordered another officer to arrest Plaintiff. several officers rather harassed and threatened Plaintiff until she left the protest.\nOn October 26, 2020, Plaintiff was protesting in Time Square when Officers John Doe 8, 9, 10, and 11 pulled Plaintiff to the ground and forced her to her knees. Police officer Yu Kian and Police Officer John Doe 8 dragged Plaintiff and arrested her. In transport the officers referred to her Instagram videos of protests and at the precinct desk, they referred to her again by name.\nOn November 17, Plaintiff was attending a protest in Brooklyn Borough Hall when Police Officer Edward Casaceli approached and referred to her by name. He said, \"Every knows your fucking name; your picture is on all of our desks.\" \nOn December 11, 2020, Plaintiff was attending a protest near the UN building and helping a friend who was injured. Police Officers John Doe 12 and 13 ran and tackled Plaintiff to the ground, zip tied and arrested her. The NYPD then released Plaintiff's full name and address to the New York Post, including false claims that Plaintiff interfered with emergency responders following a car plowing through the crowd. Plaintiff was held for several hours.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.567999/gov.uscourts.nysd.567999.22.0.pdf","type":"complaint"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60644324/besuden-v-city-of-new-york/"},{"name":"Hassab El Nabi, Abdelrahman vs City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2021-04-01","disposition_date":"2022-11-28","payout_amount":200000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"21CV03768","court":"U.S. District Court - Southern District NY","summary":"On July 28, 2020, the Plaintiff was documenting a nonviolent protest march in Manhattan. He was a photographer. The Defendant officers violently threw the Plaintiff to the ground, and repeated punched, kicked, and groped him. The Plaintiff had committed no violation of the law and was not resisting the assault. However, the Plaintiff was jabbed in the eye by Defendant Det. Nikas, and was taken to the precinct. There, Defendants Tocco and Centore prepared and forwarded prosecutors false police paperwork that alleged the Plaintiff engaged in violent conduct and refused PO orders. The Defendants kept the Plaintiff confined until he was released and arraigned on false charges.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.559283/gov.uscourts.nysd.559283.1.1_1.pdf","type":"complaint"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59862740/hassab-el-nabi-v-tocco/"},{"name":"Mitchell, Tobias vs P.O. Rodriquez, John Doe, et al.","start_date":"2014-07-03","disposition_date":"2015-02-18","payout_amount":10000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"14CV04742","court":"U.S. District Court - Southern District NY","officer_name":"Nikas, Elias J.","summary":"On March 22, 2011, Plaintiff was walking on the sidewalk near his home when stopped and illegally searched by Defendant Officer Rodriquez.  Plaintiff was taken to the 40th Precinct where he was strip-searched.  Plaintiff was ticketed, but it was dismissed at an unspecified date.   On March 31, 2011, while at the same location, Plaintiff was similarly stopped, illegally searched and arrested by Defendant Officer Chad Rowe.  Plaintiff was again taken to the 40th Precinct, strip-searched and ticketed.  The ticket was dismissed at an unspecified date.  Plaintiff had the same experience on June 26, 2011 with Defendant Officer Rodriguez.  That ticket was dismissed on September 11, 2011.  Plaintiff had the same experience October 11, 2011 with Defendant officers Maldonado and Rodriquez.  This ticket was dismissed December 22, 2011.  Plaintiff had the same experience December 25, 2011 with Defendant Officer McKenith.  That ticket was dismissed March 16, 2012.  All of these stops, searches and arrests were illegal.","documents":[{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4922137-Mitchell-v-City-of-New-York-et-al"},{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.428944.9.0.pdf","type":"complaint"},{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4922138-Mitchell-v-City-of-New-York-et-al"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4353810/mitchell-v-rodriguez/"},{"officer_name":"Nikas, Elias J.","disposition":"Zero Disposition","start_date":"2011-11-16","disposition_date":"2016-10-19","court":"Supreme Court - Bronx","docket":"308093/2011","name":"Mitchell, Tobias vs P.O. Rowe, Chad, et al.","payout_amount":0},{"officer_name":"Nikas, Elias J.","disposition":"Settlement","start_date":"2011-07-08","disposition_date":"2013-11-25","court":"U.S. District Court - Southern District NY","docket":"11CV04678","name":"Hart, Bradley vs City of New York, et al.","payout_amount":7500,"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4630541/hart-v-city-of-new-york/"}],"documents":[{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26185359-nikas_10082025pdf/","date":"2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z","type":"deviation-letter"},{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24441170-bronx-notified-officers-list-edited_redacted-redacted_redacted","type":"credibility-finding"}],"image":"https://www.50-a.org/images/officer/HBGT-elias-nikas.jpg","socials":[{"url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/elias-nikas-86748079","type":"linkedin"}],"news":[{"url":"https://www.nyc.gov/assets/ccrb/downloads/pdf/policy_pdf/issue_based/2020NYCProtestReport.pdf","title":"2020 NYC Protests","source":"CCRB","date":"2023-01-24"},{"url":"https://patch.com/new-york/longbeach/s/hvfru/nypd-used-instagram-stalk-blm-protester-lawsuit-says","title":"NYPD Used Instagram To Stalk BLM Protester, Lawsuit Says","source":"Patch","date":"2021-10-19"},{"url":"https://gothamist.com/news/police-watchdog-recommends-discipline-39-nypd-officers-over-substantiated-misconduct-blm-protests","title":"Police Watchdog Recommends Discipline for 39 NYPD Officers Over \"Substantiated Misconduct\" At BLM Protests","source":"Gothamist","date":"2021-06-22"}],"id":"HBGT","url":"https://www.50-a.org/officer/HBGT"}