Complaint #202006059,
September 5, 2020

Officer: Vassallo, Robert
Complainant: Black Male, 30-34
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Vassallo, Robert
Complainant: Black Male, 30-34
Allegation: Discourtesy: Action
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Vassallo, Robert
Complainant: Black Male, 30-34
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Disposition: APU Command Discipline B
Officer: Vassallo, Robert
Complainant: Black Male, 30-34
Allegation: Discourtesy: Action
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Disposition: APU Command Discipline B
Officer: Vassallo, Robert
Complainant: Black Male, 30-34
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Disposition: APU Dismissed
Officer: Vassallo, Robert
Allegation: Untruthful Statement: Misleading official statement
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Dismissed
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Vassallo, Robert Black Male, 30-34 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Exonerated
Vassallo, Robert Black Male, 30-34 Discourtesy: Action Unfounded
Vassallo, Robert Black Male, 30-34 Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Disposition: APU Command Discipline B
Vassallo, Robert Black Male, 30-34 Discourtesy: Action Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Disposition: APU Command Discipline B
Vassallo, Robert Black Male, 30-34 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Disposition: APU Dismissed
Vassallo, Robert Untruthful Statement: Misleading official statement Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Dismissed

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.
'Unfounded': Evidence suggests that the event or alleged conduct did not occur.

Further details on conclusions.


Penalty

Vassallo, Robert
Forfeit vacation 10 days
Closed: Resolved by plea, January 6, 2025
Forfeit vacation 2 days / Command Discipline B

Summary

On September 5, 2020 at approximately 9:43 p.m., [redacted] was driving when Sgt. Robert Vassallo, PO James Murphy, PO Jose Velez, and PO Manuel Medeiros of the 43rd Precinct were in an unmarked SUV and pulled [redacted] over into a BP gas station located at 1419 Bruckner Avenue in the Bronx (Allegation A-Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). During a back-and-forth verbal exchange between Sgt. Vassallo and [redacted] about why [redacted] had been stopped, Sgt. Vassallo mocked [redacted] by imitating his voice and gestures (Allegation B—Discourtesy, [redacted]). [redacted] handed Sgt. Vassallo his ID. Sgt. Vassallo did not hand it back to [redacted] but placed it on the windshield of [redacted] vehicle, and it slipped under the hood of the vehicle (Allegation C—Discourtesy, [redacted]). As the officers returned to their vehicle, [redacted] yelled out his window and made a general request for business cards and shield numbers. Sgt. Vassallo did not provide his business card or shield number (Allegation D and E-Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). Sgt. Vassallo provided a misleading official statement to the CCRB (Allegation F-Untruthful Statement, [redacted]). Read report for details.


Details

Incident: September 5, 2020
Received: September 8, 2020
Closed: March 23, 2022
Last Updated: January 8, 2025

Reason for contact: Other violation of VTL
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 43rd Precinct Bronx
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Body-Worn Camera evidence collected