Complaint #201411582,
November 15, 2014

Officer: Slavin, James
Complainant: Black Male, 43
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Slavin, James
Complainant: Black Male, 43
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Slavin, James
Complainant: Black Male, 43
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 40-44
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Slavin, James
Complainant: Black Male, 43
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Slavin, James Black Male, 43 Abuse of Authority: Stop Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Slavin, James Black Male, 43 Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Slavin, James Black Male, 43 Abuse of Authority: Frisk Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Unknown Officer Black Male, 40-44 Abuse of Authority: Question Exonerated
Slavin, James Black Male, 43 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest 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.
'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

Slavin, James
Command Discipline - A
Command Discipline - A / Command Level Instructions

Summary

On November 15, 2014, at 5:00 a.m., [redacted] was on his way out of the Residence Inn Hotel lobby at 148 East 48th Street in Manhattan to smoke a cigarette when two officers approached him, asked him if he was a guest in the hotel and informed him that there had been a robbery and potential murder on the second floor (Allegation A). [redacted] replied to the officers saying that that was fine because he was staying on the fourth floor and returned to his room to tell his fiancée, [redacted] what had happened.
Approximately thirty minutes later, [redacted] returned to the lobby to smoke another cigarette. When he exited the elevator, he observed ten male officers. Sgt. James Slavin, of the 17th Precinct, ordered [redacted] to the front desk and asked the employees if they knew him. The employees responded by saying that they did not. Sgt. Slavin put [redacted] into handcuffs and told him that he was a potential suspect (Allegation B).
Sgt. Slavin threatened to "lock up" [redacted] and stated, "I'm going to take you to jail right now" (Allegation C).
Sgt. Slavin ordered [redacted] to sit down. Sgt. Slavin then temporarily confiscated [redacted]s iPhone that was in his hand and proceeded to put his hands directly into each of [redacted]s pockets (Allegation D). Following the search of each of [redacted]s pockets, Sgt. Slavin removed the items that were located within them and then immediately placed the items back into the pocket.
Subsequently, Sgt. Slavin frisked in between [redacted]s legs, on the outside of his pants. (Allegation E).
Officers brought witnesses of the crime to the lobby and each stated that they did not know [redacted] Sgt. Slavin released [redacted] after he had been handcuffed for approximately thirty-five minutes. [redacted] immediately called [redacted] to come down to the lobby. [redacted] then requested Sgt. Slavin's name and badge number. Sgt. Slavin provided his name and badge verbally. [redacted] who filed the complaint, did not witness the allegations.
The Residence Inn Hotel... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: November 15, 2014
Received: November 17, 2014
Closed: September 18, 2015

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - bldg
Location: Apartment/house
In NYPD 17th Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Witness Officers: Michael Pappalardo, Matthew Randlov
Video evidence collected