Complaint #200813807,
September 22, 2008

Summary

On September 22, 2008, between 1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m., [redacted] was inside the Union Square subway station in Manhattan. She stood on the platform waiting for the "R train" headed towards Brooklyn when she saw two male uniformed police officers. [redacted] identified PO Brandon Tom by his name whose name she saw on his shield, and described him as an Asian male, about 5'9", mid- late 20's, 175 pounds, medium build, with black hair, and brown eyes, who is assigned to Transit District 2, and did not obtain his partner, Police Officer Michael Palmese's name (identified through investigation). Instead, [redacted] described Police Officer Palmese as a white male, about 5'10", mid-late 20's, 175 pounds, medium build, with brown and/or blonde hair and blue or brown eyes, whose assignment was Transit District 2. As [redacted] waited on the platform, she approached the officers and asked if the trains were running. Police Officer Palmese replied that the train headed to Brooklyn was running but would probably take about a half hour to arrive. After a half hour past, [redacted] approached the officers, a second time, and said, "Is there a problem, are you sure the trains are running? Police Officer Palmese replied, "I told you the trains were running." [redacted] then asked Police Officer Palmese for his name and he replied, "I'm not giving you my name." She then approached Police Officer Tom and he told her he did not know his partner's name. Eventually the train arrived and she boarded the train. On January 8, 2009, [redacted] viewed a photo array (encs. 7a-c) but did not identify Police Officer Brandon Tom or his partner, Michael Palmese. Read report for details.