Complaint #202200576,
January 25, 2022

Officer: Bessen, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Officer: Bessen, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Officer: Bessen, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
NYPD Disposition: APU Not guilty
Officer: Bessen, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Officer: Bessen, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Officer: Bessen, Matthew
Complainant: Age 35-39
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Unavailable
Officer: Bessen, Matthew
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Victim Unidentified
Officer: Bessen, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Bessen, Matthew Black Male, 35-39 Discourtesy: Word Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Bessen, Matthew Black Male, 35-39 Force: Physical force Unable to Determine
Bessen, Matthew Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
NYPD Disposition: APU Not guilty
Bessen, Matthew Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name Unable to Determine
Bessen, Matthew Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number Unable to Determine
Bessen, Matthew Age 35-39 Discourtesy: Word Alleged Victim Unavailable
Bessen, Matthew Discourtesy: Word Victim Unidentified
Bessen, Matthew Black Male, 35-39 Discourtesy: Word Unable to Determine

Conclusion Meanings:

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


Penalty

Bessen, Matthew
Closed: Guilty after trial-PC Approved, September 11, 2024
Forfeit vacation 23 days

Summary

On January 25, 2022, at approximately 11:25 p.m., [redacted] a music management company owner, and his client, [redacted] visited the 75th Precinct stationhouse. As PO Matthew Bessen of the 75th Precinct was returning property to [redacted] they argued about whether [redacted] cellphone, confiscated during [redacted] arrest on January 23, 2022, could be returned. PO Bessen allegedly called [redacted] and an unknown individual, who was also retrieving property, "assholes" (Allegation A: Discourtesy, [redacted] and Allegation B: Discourtesy, [redacted]). PO Bessen asked the unknown individual to leave the stationhouse. PO Bessen then allegedly told [redacted] "Better yet. You would get the fuck out too. You ain't go no fucking business here either." PO Bessen allegedly told [redacted] to "Get the fuck out" (Allegation C: Discourtesy, [redacted]). When [redacted] asked PO Bessen for an explanation, PO Bessen allegedly pushed [redacted] toward the exit. Once [redacted] was outside the stationhouse, PO Bessen allegedly pushed [redacted] (Allegation D: Force, [redacted]). PO Bessen allegedly told [redacted] "You better take a fucking walk before I tase you" (Allegation E: Discourtesy, [redacted] and Allegation F: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). [redacted] allegedly asked PO Bessen for his name and shield number. PO Bessen allegedly walked away from [redacted] without providing his name and shield number (Allegations G and H: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). Read report for details.


Details

Incident: January 25, 2022
Received: January 28, 2022
Closed: May 3, 2023
Last Updated: October 2, 2025

Reason for contact: C/V at PCT to retrieve property
Location: Police building
In NYPD 75th Precinct Brooklyn
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Witness Officers: Sean Bauer, Krystle Bohanan, Alfredo Vallegonzalez
Video evidence collected