Complaint #201406773,
July 4, 2014

Officer: Lynch, Seth
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 33
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Officer: Lynch, Seth
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 33
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Officer: Lynch, Seth
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 50
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Officer: Lynch, Seth
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 50
Allegation: Force: Other blunt instrument as a club
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Kourounis, Nicholas
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 33
Allegation: Force: Handcuffs too tight
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Lynch, Seth
Allegation: Discourtesy: Action
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Lynch, Seth
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 50
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Not guilty
Officer: Lynch, Seth
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 50
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Retaliatory summons
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Lynch, Seth Hispanic Female, 33 Force: Physical force Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Lynch, Seth Hispanic Female, 33 Discourtesy: Word Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Lynch, Seth Hispanic Male, 50 Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Lynch, Seth Hispanic Male, 50 Force: Other blunt instrument as a club Substantiated (Charges)
Kourounis, Nicholas Hispanic Female, 33 Force: Handcuffs too tight Unsubstantiated
Lynch, Seth Discourtesy: Action Unsubstantiated
Lynch, Seth Hispanic Male, 50 Abuse of Authority: Stop Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Not guilty
Lynch, Seth Hispanic Male, 50 Abuse of Authority: Retaliatory summons Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty

Conclusion Meanings:

'Substantiated': The misconduct occurred and it violated the rules. The NYPD has discretion over what, if any, discipline is imposed.
'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.


Penalty

Lynch, Seth
Closed: Guilty after trial-PC Approved, March 27, 2017
Forfeit vacation 25 days

Summary

On July 4, 2014, in front of [redacted] in the Bronx, at approximately 10:15pm, [redacted] observed two officers, identified via investigation as Lt. Seth Lynch and PO Nicholas Kournanis, arrive at the location. Shortly thereafter, fireworks were set off near the officers' vehicle. The officers exited and approached a crowd that had formed. According to [redacted] Lt. Lynch approached a man, identified via investigation as [redacted] and stopped him in regard to a nearby radio that was playing music (Allegation A). Lt. Lynch then placed [redacted] in handcuffs in order to take him to the stationhouse, where he was ultimately summonsed (Allegation B). Lt. Lynch placed [redacted] in the patrol car and allegedly threw the radio into the back of the car, hitting [redacted] on the arm (Allegation C).
Although [redacted] did not know [redacted] she protested his arrest because she allegedly knew the radio did not belong to him. Lt. Lynch allegedly told her to "Shut the fuck up" (Allegation D) and told the crowd to clear the area. After the first directive, [redacted] began to walk away, at which point Lt. Lynch told PO Kourounis to handcuff her. PO Kourounis placed a handcuff on [redacted]'s left wrist, and Lt. Lynch allegedly pushed her in the upper chest area with a closed fist, causing her to fall backwards into a chair (Allegation E). While still in the chair, PO Kourounis grabbed [redacted]'s left wrist and further tightened the handcuff (Allegation F). Lt. Lynch began to assist PO Kourounis, and again Lt. Lynch told her to "Shut the fuck up" (within Allegation D). Once both handcuffs were on, PO Kourounis allegedly tightened them further (within Allegation F). [redacted] alleged that she sustained injuries from both the handcuffing and the physical force allegedly used against her by Lt. Lynch. After she was in handcuffs, [redacted] allegedly witnessed Lt. Lynch kick over a grill belonging to a friend of [redacted] possibly damaging it (Allegation G). [redacted] was then transported to the stationhouse.
After... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: July 4, 2014
Received: July 8, 2014
Closed: July 28, 2015
Last Updated: October 2, 2025

Reason for contact: C/V intervened on behalf of/observed encounter w/3rd party
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 46th Precinct Bronx
Outcome: Summons - disorderly conduct

Witness Officers: Laura Barbato