Complaint #201506867,
August 16, 2015

Officer: Willis, Dereon
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 45
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Willis, Dereon Hispanic Male, 45 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Substantiated (Command Discipline A)

Conclusion Meanings:

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

Further details on conclusions.


Penalty

Willis, Dereon
Command Discipline - A

Summary

On August 16, 2015, at approximately 9:15 p.m., [redacted] were in the vicinity of East 122nd Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. [redacted] are members of an activist group called the [redacted]. [redacted] heard a police radio call for an assault in progress at an adjacent NYCHA Development on their police scanners and proceeded to that location. When [redacted] arrived at the location, two RMPs were on the scene including RMP# 9358 that Sgt. Dereon Willis and Sgt. Alesandro Florentino were sitting in. While [redacted] stood alongside a fence, Sgt. Florentino made a U-turn and began to drive out of the NYCHA development when he stopped the RMP alongside [redacted]. Through the open passenger window, [redacted] spoke with Sgt. Willis. Sgt. Willis and [redacted] recognized each other from previous encounters and acknowledged each other. [redacted] and Sgt. Willis then have a calm, but antagonistic conversation in which [redacted] continually advises Sgt. Willis of his own importance. During the conversation, [redacted] told Sgt. Willis, "Cause you can't do shit." Sgt. Willis replied to [redacted] "Yes I can. I can leave here right now and come back and beat you up, because I can be done" (Allegation A). [redacted] and Sgt. Willis continued to talk for a few seconds and then Sgt. Florentino drove away from the scene. [redacted] walked away from the scene immediately afterwards. Read report for details.


Details

Incident: August 16, 2015
Received: August 17, 2015
Closed: October 8, 2015

Reason for contact: C/V intervened on behalf of/observed encounter w/3rd party
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 25th Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Witness Officers: Alesandro Florentino
Video evidence collected