Complaint #202309984,
October 7, 2023

Officer: Romani, John
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Romani, John
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Officer: Valembrun, Vilaire
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Valembrun, Vilaire
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Officer: Sabala, Maximo
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Officer: Burton, Kenneth
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Officer: Burton, Kenneth
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Burton, Kenneth
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Officer: Burton, Kenneth
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Burton, Kenneth
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Officer: Burton, Kenneth
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Burton, Kenneth
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Romani, John
Complainant: Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Improper use of body-worn camera
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Officer: Lebron, Richard
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Officer: Lebron, Richard
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Officer: Lebron, Richard
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Valembrun, Vilaire
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Officer: Valembrun, Vilaire
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Force: Other
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Officer: Burton, Kenneth
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Officer: Burton, Kenneth
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Officer: Romani, John
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Unlawful Arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Romani, John
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Board Conclusion
Romani, John Black Male, 35-39 Force: Physical force Unfounded
Romani, John Black Male, 35-39 Force: Physical force Unable to Determine
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
Valembrun, Vilaire Black Male, 35-39 Force: Physical force Unfounded
Valembrun, Vilaire Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card Unable to Determine
Sabala, Maximo Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card Unable to Determine
Burton, Kenneth Discourtesy: Word Within NYPD Guidelines
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
Burton, Kenneth Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Burton, Kenneth Abuse of Authority: Frisk Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Burton, Kenneth Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Burton, Kenneth Abuse of Authority: Frisk Unable to Determine
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
Burton, Kenneth Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Burton, Kenneth Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Romani, John Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Improper use of body-worn camera Unable to Determine
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
Lebron, Richard Abuse of Authority: Question Within NYPD Guidelines
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
Lebron, Richard Abuse of Authority: Frisk Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Lebron, Richard Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Valembrun, Vilaire Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Within NYPD Guidelines
Valembrun, Vilaire Black Male, 35-39 Force: Other Unable to Determine
Burton, Kenneth Abuse of Authority: Question Within NYPD Guidelines
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
Burton, Kenneth Abuse of Authority: Question Unable to Determine
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
Romani, John Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Unlawful Arrest Substantiated (Charges)
Romani, John Black Male, 35-39 Force: Physical force 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.
'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.


Penalties

Romani, John
Forfeit vacation 10 days
Closed: Resolved by plea, April 8, 2026
APU Dismissed
Forfeit vacation 10 days / Command Discipline B

Lebron, Richard
Command Discipline - B

Burton, Kenneth
Formalized Training
Closed: Resolved by plea, April 8, 2026
APU Dismissed
Formalized Training

Details

Incident: October 7, 2023
Received: October 23, 2023
Closed: February 18, 2025
Last Updated: April 10, 2026

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - street
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 63rd Precinct Brooklyn
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: John Brennan, Joseph Cassar, Carolyn Clark, Matthew Gilson, Shahid Iqbal, Saidul Islam, Mariam Karim, Ruth Lormil, Sergio Martins, Melissa Oliva, Briana Parker, Md Rahman, Chandon Rodriguez, Nataly Sampedro, Daniston Swaby, John Triano, Matthew Villalobos, Zureno Wilson, Kevin Wind
Body-Worn Camera evidence collected
Video evidence collected