Complaint #201502876,
April 15, 2015

Summary

A cab driver, was leaning on his parked car in the Bronx talking on the phone when a police car pulled up. Four officers exited the car and asked him what he was doing, and why he was there. The victim stated that Sgt. John Ferrara yelled at him to "go back to your fucking country" and that officer Doreyda Munoz stuck her hand inside his pants near his waist and felt around. He did not have anything that would create a bulge.
After he complained that his religion (he is Muslim) forbade them from touching him, an Sgt. Ferrara said Munoz could do whatever she wanted and told him to "get the fuck out of here." The sergeant poked the victim in the face and pushed him. At this point, the man used his phone to record audio, capturing Sergeant Ferrara telling him "If you take a picture of my car, you're going to jail," and that if the man didn't leave, the sergeant would "put a bullet in your fucking head." At her interview, PO Munoz stated that she did not remember the incident at all, but when played the audio recording confirmed that the voice belonged to Sergeant Ferrara.
During his interview, Sergeant Ferrara stated that the man had been urinating in the street when they approached, but that he (Sergeant Ferrara) did not recall anything about what happened during the stop. When played the recording, he stated he could not tell if it was his own voice and could not remember anyone saying the recorded statements. Neither officer prepared the required stop- question-and-frisk report for the incident.
The CCRB substantiated allegations of an improper stop and search against PO Munoz. It substantiated allegations of an improper stop, improper search, discourteous word, ethnic slur, and a threat of arrest against Sergeant Ferrara.
Sergeant Ferrara was found guilty after an administrative trial and forfeited twenty vacation days. He subsequently left the NYPD. Read report for details.