Richard A. Mezzatesta

Badge #3513, White Male, 43
Sergeant Special Assignment at Police Academy Payroll and Roll Call since September 2021, active
Also served at 81st Precinct, Gang Squad Queens South
Service started July 2002, made $175,000 last year, Tax #930735

Substantiated Allegations:
Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched (2)

Lawsuit settlements:
$100,000   Capellan, Sandra, et al. vs City of New York, et al., 2020 EDNY EDNY 20CV00867
$2,501   Ford, Robert vs City of New York, et al., 2016 EDNY EDNY 16CV02046
View Details

Complaints

4 Complaints
8 Allegations
2 Substantiated
2 Substantiated (Charges)
3 Exonerated
1 Unfounded
2 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #201710093, December 2017
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
Complainant: Asian Male, 24
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
Complainant: Asian Male, 27
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Allegation: Force: Gun Pointed
Complainant: Asian Male, 27
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: Asian Male, 24
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
NYPD Conclusion: APU Closed: Retained, with discipline
APU Case Status: Closed: Retained, with discipline, July 2019
Penalty: Command Discipline A
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
APU Quarterly Report summary
additional details

Complaint #201701944, March 2017
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Male
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201306254, June 2013
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 19
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Black Male, 19
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201214377, October 2012
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 33
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201710093, December 2017
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Asian Male, 24 Substantiated (Charges)
Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Asian Male, 27 Substantiated (Charges)
Force: Gun Pointed Asian Male, 27 Unfounded
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Asian Male, 24 Unsubstantiated
NYPD Conclusion: APU Closed: Retained, with discipline
APU Case Status: Closed: Retained, with discipline, July 2019
Penalty: Command Discipline A
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
APU Quarterly Report summary
additional details
Complaint #201701944, March 2017
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Male Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #201306254, June 2013
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 19 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Black Male, 19 Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #201214377, October 2012
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 33 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.
'Unfounded': Evidence suggests that the event or alleged conduct did not occur.
'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 3 known lawsuits, $102,501 total settlements.

Capellan, Sandra, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 20CV00867, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, February 25, 2020, ended May 9, 2022
$100,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On August 29, 2019, approximately 10 police officers, all in plain clothes, broke through the front door of one of the plaintiff's 3-story home, without first knocking, with their firearms drawn and pointed at plaintiffs. All of the plaintiffs were naked or semi-naked, partially undressed or in nightclothes, and most were asleep at the time of the break-in. One plaintiff was kept on the floor and an officer had a knee on his back, and the officers forced all the other plaintiffs to the ground floor of the house. Plaintiffs were all handcuffed except for one elderly woman. No arrests were made, and the officers admitted to plaintiffs that the target of the raid was not any of the occupants of the house bur r...

Ford, Robert vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 16CV02046, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, May 9, 2016, ended March 22, 2017
$2,501 Settlement
Complaint, First Amended Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was at his girlfriend's apartment when Defendant Officers rushed in, struck plaintiff in the head with a shield, dragged him to the living room, and handcuffed him. The Defendant Officers searched the home for hours looking for guns but did not recover any. They strip searched Plaintiff in his bathroom and then arrested him and took him to the precinct. Plaintiff was charged with a knife recovered from the kitchen drawer in the apartment, small bag of marijuana found inside the couch, and violating an order of protection that had ever existed. A grand jury voted to dismiss all the charges

Holley v. City of New York et al
Case # 12CV02410, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
Settlement
Amended Complaint, Stipulation