Complaint #202203603,
June 4, 2022

Officer: Malfetano, Brett
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 45-49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Malfetano, Brett
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 45-49
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Officer: Pichardo, Jose
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 45-49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Celestin, Ernst
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 45-49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Torres, Jonathan
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 45-49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Celestin, Ernst
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 45-49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Officer: Celestin, Ernst
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 21-24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Speranza, Luke
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of recording device
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Pichardo, Jose
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 45-49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Officer: Flores, Shamil
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 45-49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Miscellaneous - Subject Resigned
Officer: Speranza, Luke
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 45-49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Unknown Officer
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Electronic device information deletion
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Malfetano, Brett Hispanic Female, 45-49 Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Malfetano, Brett Hispanic Female, 45-49 Force: Physical force Within NYPD Guidelines
Pichardo, Jose Hispanic Female, 45-49 Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Celestin, Ernst Hispanic Female, 45-49 Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Torres, Jonathan Hispanic Female, 45-49 Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Celestin, Ernst Hispanic Female, 45-49 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Within NYPD Guidelines
Celestin, Ernst Hispanic Male, 21-24 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Unfounded
Speranza, Luke Abuse of Authority: Search of recording device Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Pichardo, Jose Hispanic Female, 45-49 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Within NYPD Guidelines
Flores, Shamil Hispanic Female, 45-49 Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Miscellaneous - Subject Resigned
Speranza, Luke Hispanic Female, 45-49 Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Unknown Officer Abuse of Authority: Electronic device information deletion Unfounded

Conclusion Meanings:

'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.
'Within NYPD Guidelines': The conduct occurred but did not violate the NYPD's own rules, which often give officers significant discretion.

Further details on conclusions.


Penalty

Speranza, Luke
Command Discipline B 6 days
Closed: Resolved by plea, April 9, 2024
APU Command Discipline B
Forfeit vacation 6 days

Summary

On June 4, 2022, at approximately 10:56 PM, Police Officer Brett Malfetano, Police Officer Jose Pichardo, Police Officer Luke Speranza, Police Officer Ernst Celestin, Police Officer Jonathan Torres, and Police Officer Shamil Flores from the 40th Precinct went to [redacted] in the Bronx in response to a 911 call regarding an ongoing neighbor dispute. While investigating allegations that second- and third-floor residents threw items at each other, the third-floor resident, [redacted] showed PO Malfetano and PO Pichardo security footage on her phone. An officer allegedly deleted relevant footage from [redacted] phone (Allegation A: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). When [redacted] asked for her phone back, PO Speranza continued to review other videos (Allegation B: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]).
While investigating the dispute, officers learned that there was an active I-card with probable cause to arrest [redacted] son, [redacted]. PO Pichardo entered [redacted] apartment (Allegation C: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). After arguing about the validity of the arrest with [redacted], PO Pichardo threatened to arrest her (Allegation D: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). PO Torres then entered the apartment, followed by PO Malfetano, PO Celestin, and PO Speranza (Allegations E to H: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]).
As [redacted] blocked PO Malfetano's path, he guided her out of his way (Allegation I: Force, [redacted]). PO Celestin then threatened to arrest [redacted] (Allegation J: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). PO Celestin also allegedly threatened to arrest [redacted] another second-floor resident (Allegation K: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). PO Flores was the last officer to enter the apartment (Allegation L: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]).
[redacted] was arrested on an open I-card and charged with criminal mischief for previously damaging [redacted] property (Board Review 1). Read report for details.


Details

Incident: June 4, 2022
Received: June 5, 2022
Closed: November 2, 2023
Last Updated: April 11, 2024

Reason for contact: Report-dispute
Location: Apartment/house
In NYPD 40th Precinct Bronx
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Body-Worn Camera evidence collected