William J. Sommer

Badge #2586, White Male, 45
Sergeant Detective Squad at Drug Enforcement Task Force since November 2018, active
Service started September 2000, made $202,000 last year, Tax #927538

Substantiated Allegations:
Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop

Lawsuit settlements:
$75,000   Byas, Aggrie Patrick vs City of New York, et al., 2015 NYCSC NYCSC 152683/2015
$112,500   Tonge, Charles vs City of New York, et al., 2014 SDNY SDNY 14CV03934
$225,000   Whittaker, Brian, et al. vs City of New York, et al., 2014 SDNY SDNY 14CV05388
View Details

Complaints

8 Complaints
20 Allegations
3 Substantiated
3 Substantiated (Charges)
6 Exonerated
11 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #201901338, February 2019
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 25-29
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 25-29
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 25-29
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to obtain medical treatment
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 25-29
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201011291, August 2010
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 35
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #200917116, November 2009
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Gun Drawn
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
Complainant: Black Female, 68
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #200914794, September 2009
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: White Male, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
Complainant: White Male, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: White Male, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: White Male, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200816727, November 2008
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 41
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200714943, October 2007
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: Black Male, 36
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
Complainant: Black Male, 36
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Black Male, 36
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Conclusion: No Disciplinary Action-DUP
Penalty: Command Discipline - B
additional details

Complaint #200404283, April 2004
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #200309058, November 2003
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Female, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Action
Complainant: Black Female, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201901338, February 2019
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Hispanic Male, 25-29 Unsubstantiated
Force: Physical force Hispanic Male, 25-29 Unsubstantiated
Force: Physical force Hispanic Male, 25-29 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to obtain medical treatment Hispanic Male, 25-29 Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201011291, August 2010
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched Exonerated
Discourtesy: Word Hispanic Male, 35 Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #200917116, November 2009
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Gun Drawn Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Black Female, 68 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #200914794, September 2009
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search White Male, 32 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop White Male, 32 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Frisk White Male, 32 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) White Male, 32 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200816727, November 2008
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 41 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200714943, October 2007
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Black Male, 36 Substantiated (Charges)
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Black Male, 36 Substantiated (Charges)
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Black Male, 36 Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Conclusion: No Disciplinary Action-DUP
Penalty: Command Discipline - B
additional details
Complaint #200404283, April 2004
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #200309058, November 2003
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Word Black Female, 32 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Action Black Female, 32 Unsubstantiated
additional details

Conclusion Meanings:

'Exonerated': or 'Within NYPD Guidelines' - the alleged conduct occurred but did not violate the NYPD's own rules, which often give officers significant discretion.
'Substantiated': The alleged conduct occurred and it violated the rules. The NYPD has discretion over what, if any, discipline is imposed.
'Unsubstantiated': or 'Unable to Determine' - CCRB has fully investigated but could not affirmatively conclude both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules.

Further details on conclusion definitions.


Lawsuits

Named in 4 known lawsuits, $412,500 total settlements.

Byas, Aggrie Patrick vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 152683/2015, Supreme Court - New York, March 26, 2015, ended April 29, 2016
$75,000 Settlement
Complaint

Tonge, Charles vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV03934, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, October 14, 2014, ended June 26, 2015
$112,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On July 22, 2011, Charles Tonge was riding in a vehicle that was allegedly illegally stopped in Manhattan. Plaintiff Tonge was then arrested, and was allegedly kept at Riker's Island until April of 2013 when he alleges to have been released on his own recognizance. Plaintiff alleges that Detective Said Salim made false statemnets to prosecutors. Plaintiff makes two claims under federal law in his complaint, alleging facts of false arrest, malicious prosecution, and failure to intervene.

Whittaker, Brian, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV05388, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, August 6, 2014, ended July 29, 2015
$225,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On July 22, 2011, Plaintiffs, as passengers in a motor vehicle being driven by its owner, were stopped without any valid legal reason by defendant officers Salim, Garcia, Sherlock, Garcia, Ingram, and Sommer. Plaintiffs, the driver, and another passenger were handcuffed, arrested and transported to the 30th precinct stationhouse. At the precinct, they were strip searched and imprisoned. Defendant officer Salim conveyed false evidence to prosecutors, alleging that he had recovered a loaded firearm in the trunk of the vehicle, which was used in legal proceedings against the Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs were ultimately compelled to return to court over twenty times until the charges filed against them were dismissed.

Mcneill, Fitzroy vs Det. Jordan, Jonathan, et al.
Case # 14CV02872, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, July 21, 2014
Settlement
Complaint