Complaint #200008862,
September 28, 2000

Officer: Didonato, Vincent
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Didonato, Vincent
Allegation: Offensive Language: Race
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer: Leto, Teresa
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Mullins, Edward
Allegation: Discourtesy: Demeanor/tone
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Didonato, Vincent Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Exonerated
Didonato, Vincent Offensive Language: Race Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024
Leto, Teresa Discourtesy: Word Unsubstantiated
Mullins, Edward Discourtesy: Demeanor/tone Unsubstantiated

Conclusion Meanings:

'Exonerated': or 'Within NYPD Guidelines' - The conduct occurred but did not violate the NYPD's own rules, which often give officers significant discretion.
'Unsubstantiated': or 'Unable to Determine' - The alleged conduct was investigated but could not determine both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules.

Further details on conclusions.


Summary

[redacted], stated that he has been the subject of a N.Y.P.D financial investigation since August of 2000 (enc.7A-C). Detectives from the 67 detective squad began looking into his business practices after receiving a complaint against him. [redacted] stated that he has retained a lawyer in regards to his criminal case and has also filed a notice of claim with the city (16A-C).
[redacted] stated that the first he knew of this complaint was when several detectives from the 67 precinct came to his store on 8/18/00. They told [redacted] that he had to come with them, but allowed him to drive himself to the stationhouse. At the 67 stationhouse [redacted] met Sergeant Mullins. He then was searched, his picture taken, and he was placed in a cell, as though he had been arrested. After some time [redacted] was brought out to meet with Lieutenant DiDonato. The Lieutenant allowed [redacted] to tell his "side of the story" and released him with the understanding that [redacted] would return to the 67 stationhouse with some paperwork pertaining to the investigation. As [redacted] was leaving the stationhouse that day, Lieutenant DiDonato threatened him that if he did not bring in the promised paperwork, his wife would be arrested as well (Allegation A).
In the following few weeks, [redacted] spoke to Lieutenant DiDonato on the phone several times. [redacted] especially remembered one phone conversation he had with Lieutenant DiDonato in which the Lieutenant referred to [redacted]'s colleague [redacted] as a "pencil pushing nigger," which [redacted] found extremely offensive (Allegation B).
On 9/28/00 at around 8:30 AM, [redacted] walked down the driveway of his home in Long Island to get the newspaper. As he did this, three unmarked cars pulled up the driveway and one officer informed him that he was under arrest. [redacted] stated that he was shocked at this because he believed that the understanding between his lawyer and the 67 squad was that he would simply turn himself in if it came to an arrest situation.... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: September 28, 2000
Received: December 26, 2000
Closed: June 1, 2001
Last Updated: December 11, 2024

Reason for contact: Other
Location: Apartment/house
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: George Alvarado, Joseph Calabrese, John Guinane