Complaint #201707428,
May 8, 2017

Officer: Franzese, Joseph
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 34
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Espada, Aaron
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 33
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Espada, Aaron
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 33
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Espada, Aaron
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 33
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Espada, Aaron
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 33
Allegation: Offensive Language: Race
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer: Espada, Aaron
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 33
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Franzese, Joseph Hispanic Female, 34 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Unsubstantiated
Espada, Aaron Hispanic Male, 33 Discourtesy: Word Unsubstantiated
Espada, Aaron Hispanic Male, 33 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Unsubstantiated
Espada, Aaron Hispanic Male, 33 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Espada, Aaron Hispanic Male, 33 Offensive Language: Race Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024
Espada, Aaron Hispanic Male, 33 Force: Physical force 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.
'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.


Summary

On May 8, 2017, at approximately 9:15 p.m., [redacted] and [redacted] were involved in a vehicle accident in the vicinity of Howard Avenue and Campus Road in Staten Island. PO Aaron Espada and PO Joseph Franzese of the 120th Precinct responded to the incident. PO Espada allegedly pushed [redacted] while the officers were obtaining statements. (Allegation A - Force, [redacted]). PO Espada allegedly told [redacted] to "shut the fuck up" and "I don't give a fuck" (Allegation B – Discourtesy, [redacted]). [redacted] asked PO Franzese for his name and he allegedly refused to provide it to her (Allegation C – Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). [redacted] was reportedly found with an open warrant after the officers ran his name to issue him a summons. [redacted] asked for a larger vehicle to transport him to the stationhouse. PO Espada allegedly said, "No, you fucking spic. The NYPD doesn't buy fucking paddy wagons. Why do you keep asking for a fucking paddy wagon?" (Allegation D – Offensive Language, [redacted] additional discourtesies subsumed under Allegation B). PO Espada pushed [redacted] to get him into the backseat of the car (Allegation E – Force, [redacted]). PO Espada allegedly threatened [redacted] with the use of force by saying, "I'm gonna call boss and boss is going to come down here and Tase you. I'm going to shoot you in the back of the head and I'm going to lay you out on the back fucking seat" (Allegation F – Abuse of Authority, [redacted] additional discourtesy subsumed under Allegation B). Read report for details.


Details

Incident: May 8, 2017
Received: September 11, 2017
Closed: January 30, 2018
Last Updated: December 11, 2024

Reason for contact: Traffic accident
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 120th Precinct Staten Island
Outcome: Summons - disorderly conduct

Witness Officers: Vincent Giuliano, Jihad Shahin