Complaint #202100965,
February 6, 2021

Officer: Brovakos, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Brovakos, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Brovakos, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Brovakos, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Brovakos, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Schreckenstein, Jason
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Schreckenstein, Jason
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Smith, Craig
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Brovakos, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Seizure of property
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Brovakos, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat re: removal to hospital
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Brovakos, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Brovakos, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Offensive Language: Race
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer: Brovakos, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Schreckenstein, Jason
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Brovakos, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Smith, Craig
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Brovakos, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Brovakos, Timothy Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Exonerated
Brovakos, Timothy Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Unsubstantiated
Brovakos, Timothy Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Frisk Unsubstantiated
Brovakos, Timothy Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording Exonerated
Brovakos, Timothy Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Unsubstantiated
Schreckenstein, Jason Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Unsubstantiated
Schreckenstein, Jason Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Smith, Craig Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Brovakos, Timothy Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Seizure of property Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Brovakos, Timothy Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Threat re: removal to hospital Unfounded
Brovakos, Timothy Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording Exonerated
Brovakos, Timothy Black Male, 35-39 Offensive Language: Race Unfounded
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024
Brovakos, Timothy Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Schreckenstein, Jason Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Brovakos, Timothy Black Male, 35-39 Discourtesy: Word Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Smith, Craig Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Brovakos, Timothy Black Male, 35-39 Discourtesy: Word Substantiated (Command Discipline B)

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.
'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.


Penalties

Brovakos, Timothy
Forfeit vacation 9 days
Closed: Resolved by plea, November 10, 2023
APU Guilty
Forfeit vacation 9 days

Schreckenstein, Jason
Command Discipline - A
Command Discipline - A (Vacation: 2 days)

Smith, Craig
Command Discipline - A
Command Discipline - A (Vacation: 2 days)

Summary

On February 6, 2021, at approximately 2:35 a.m., Lieutenant Timothy Brovakos and Police Officers Jason Schreckenstein and Craig Smith of the 71st Precinct stopped [redacted] vehicle in front of 506-528 Utica Avenue in Brooklyn (Allegation A: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). When [redacted] took out his cellphone to film the encounter, Lt. Brovakos ordered him to put his cell phone down, thereby interfering with his use of a recording device (Allegation B: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). Lt. Brovakos frisked and searched [redacted] and joined PO Schreckenstein in searching [redacted] car (Allegations C-F: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). PO Schreckenstein and PO Smith refused to provide their shield numbers to [redacted] upon his request (Allegations G–H: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). Lt. Brovakos allegedly made a remark to [redacted] based upon his race by insinuating that he was a felon (Allegation I: Offensive Language, [redacted], Allegation J: Discourtesy, [redacted]). Lt. Brovakos did not return [redacted] vehicle registration at the conclusion of the traffic stop (Allegation K: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). Lt. Brovakos, PO Schreckenstein, and PO Smith failed to provide [redacted] with business cards (Allegations L-N: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). The officers drove away without arresting [redacted] or issuing him any summonses.
[redacted] drove around the nearby area looking for the officers to get his vehicle [redacted] back. At approximately 2:45 a.m., he flagged them down a few blocks away, at the intersection of Rutland Road and Remsen Avenue in Brooklyn. [redacted] and Lt. Brovakos, both seated in their cars, began arguing with each other while [redacted] filmed the encounter. Lt. Brovakos again ordered [redacted] to put his phone down, which prompted [redacted] to put his phone down, thereby interfering with his use of a recording device (Allegation O: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). Lt. Brovakos spoke discourteously to [redacted] (Allegation P: Discourtesy, [redacted]). Lt. Brovakos... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: February 6, 2021
Received: February 11, 2021
Closed: June 9, 2022
Last Updated: December 11, 2024

Reason for contact: Other violation of VTL
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 71st Precinct Brooklyn
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Body-Worn Camera evidence collected
Video evidence collected