Complaint #202304482,
May 11, 2023

Officer: Commander, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Officer: Ali, Ahmed
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Officer: Coffaro, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Coffaro, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Officer: Coffaro, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Coffaro, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Caravana, Anthony
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Officer: Coffaro, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Coffaro, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: False official statement
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Recategorized as: Abuse of Authority: Other
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Board Conclusion
Commander, Timothy Black Male, 21-24 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Within NYPD Guidelines
Ali, Ahmed Black Male, 21-24 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Within NYPD Guidelines
Coffaro, Matthew Black Male, 21-24 Abuse of Authority: Frisk Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Coffaro, Matthew Black Male, 21-24 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Within NYPD Guidelines
Coffaro, Matthew Black Male, 21-24 Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Coffaro, Matthew Black Male, 21-24 Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Caravana, Anthony Black Male, 21-24 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Within NYPD Guidelines
Coffaro, Matthew Black Male, 21-24 Abuse of Authority: Question Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Coffaro, Matthew Black Male, 21-24 Abuse of Authority: False official statement Unable to Determine
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
Recategorized as Abuse of Authority: Other

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.
'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

Coffaro, Matthew
Closed: Retained, with discipline, November 12, 2024
APU Closed: Retained, with discipline
Forfeit vacation 2 days

Summary

On May 11th, 2023, at approximately 6:32 p.m., [redacted] was alone driving a dark gray Infinity sedan near the intersection of Mermaid Avenue and 22nd Street in Brooklyn. Police Officers Matthew Coffaro, Ahmed Ali, Timothy Commander, and Anthony Caravana, all of the Patrol Borough Brooklyn Community Response Team, stopped [redacted] vehicle (Allegations A-D, Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). PO Cofarro asked [redacted] to step out of the vehicle, and [redacted] complied. PO Cofarro asked [redacted], "Do you have any weapons on you, any drugs, anything like that?" (Allegation E: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). [redacted] replied, "No," and PO Coffaro asked, "Do you mind if I search you for my safety?" [redacted] replied, "No problem," and PO Coffaro searched [redacted] hoodie pocket and pants pockets, and frisked [redacted] waistband (Allegation F, G, Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). At the conclusion of the stop, PO Coffaro failed to provide [redacted] with a business card (Allegation G, Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). No arrests or summons resulted from this incident.
PO Coffaro generated a Common Law Right to Inquiry - Consent Search Report in which PO Coffaro made a false official statement against [redacted] (Allegation I: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). Read report for details.


Details

Incident: May 11, 2023
Received: May 22, 2023
Closed: October 8, 2024
Last Updated: November 14, 2024

Reason for contact: Other violation of VTL
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 60th Precinct Brooklyn
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Body-Worn Camera evidence collected