William J. Butler

Former Lieutenant at Transit Bureau District 11
Also served at 26th Precinct, 32nd Precinct, 50th Precinct
Service started January 2004, ended January 2024, Tax #933664
White Male

Substantiated Allegations:
Abuse of Authority: Frisk (2)
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search

Discipline Cases:

Case: 2017-17442
Closed: 11/9/2017

View Details

Complaints

8 Complaints
28 Allegations
5 Substantiated
3 Substantiated (Command Discipline)
1 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
1 Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
9 Complainant Unavailable
5 Complainant Uncooperative
4 Exonerated
5 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #202302756, April 2023
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 50-54
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
Allegation: Force: Hit against inanimate object
Complainant: Black Male, 50-54
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 50-54
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
Allegation: Offensive Language: Race
Complainant: Black Male, 50-54
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 50-54
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: Black Male, 50-54
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Male, 50-54
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 50-54
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 50-54
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
Allegation: Force: Gun Pointed
Complainant: Black Male, 50-54
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
additional details

Complaint #201610050, December 2016
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 36
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 36
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201405184, May 2014
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Male, 47
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 47
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Black Male, 47
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Penalty: Formalized Training
additional details

Complaint #201300106, December 2012
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: Black Male, 40
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
Complainant: Black Male, 40
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
NYPD Conclusion: No Disciplinary Action-DUP
Penalty: No penalty
additional details

Complaint #201008353, June 2010
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: Black Male, 27
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 27
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Male, 27
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200807606, May 2008
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Asian Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Asian Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
Complainant: Asian Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Asian Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #200717516, November 2007
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Male, 40
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Black Male, 40
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline)
NYPD Conclusion: No Disciplinary Action-DUP
Penalty: Command Discipline - B
additional details

Complaint #200515344, December 2005
Allegation: Force: Gun Pointed
Complainant: Black Female, 34
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
Complainant: Black Female, 34
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #202302756, April 2023
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 50-54 Complainant Unavailable
Force: Hit against inanimate object Black Male, 50-54 Complainant Unavailable
Force: Physical force Black Male, 50-54 Complainant Unavailable
Offensive Language: Race Black Male, 50-54 Complainant Uncooperative
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 50-54 Complainant Unavailable
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Black Male, 50-54 Complainant Unavailable
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Male, 50-54 Complainant Unavailable
Force: Physical force Black Male, 50-54 Complainant Unavailable
Force: Physical force Black Male, 50-54 Complainant Unavailable
Force: Gun Pointed Black Male, 50-54 Complainant Unavailable
additional details
Complaint #201610050, December 2016
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Hispanic Male, 36 Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Discourtesy: Word Hispanic Male, 36 Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201405184, May 2014
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Male, 47 Unsubstantiated
Force: Physical force Black Male, 47 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Black Male, 47 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Penalty: Formalized Training
additional details
Complaint #201300106, December 2012
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Black Male, 40 Substantiated (Command Discipline)
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Black Male, 40 Unsubstantiated
NYPD Conclusion: No Disciplinary Action-DUP
Penalty: No penalty
additional details
Complaint #201008353, June 2010
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Black Male, 27 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 27 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Male, 27 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200807606, May 2008
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Asian Male, 31 Complainant Uncooperative
Force: Physical force Asian Male, 31 Complainant Uncooperative
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Asian Male, 31 Complainant Uncooperative
Discourtesy: Word Asian Male, 31 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #200717516, November 2007
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Male, 40 Substantiated (Command Discipline)
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Black Male, 40 Substantiated (Command Discipline)
NYPD Conclusion: No Disciplinary Action-DUP
Penalty: Command Discipline - B
additional details
Complaint #200515344, December 2005
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Gun Pointed Black Female, 34 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Black Female, 34 Exonerated
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.


Discipline

Case: 2017-17442
Closed: 11/9/2017
Case Details:
  1. Guilty: While on-duty, wrongfully authorized the strip seach of a priosoner.
  2. Guilty: Failed to ensure that the strip search was documented in the command log and the arrest report supplement.
  3. Guilty: Made misleading / inaccurate statements during a CCRB interview.
  4. Guilty: Failed to make activity log intries regarding the strip seach.
Penalty: Dismissal probation (12 months), vacation days (30 days)


Lawsuits

Wigfall, Arthur Jr. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV00268, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, January 16, 2013, ended July 13, 2016
Order/Judgment (Verdict)
Complaint
Description: On October 18, 2011, plaintiff broke a window at a Chinese restaurant in upper Manhattan, cutting his wrist. After seeking rudimentary first aid, the plaintiff was arrested by NYPD Officer William Butler, placed in handcuffs, and transported to the 32nd Precinct. At the precinct, Officer Butler and other unknown officers refused to provide medical attention for plaintiff's bleeding wrist. When the officers attempted to fingerprint plaintiff, he objected out of a concern for hygiene. Officer Butler and the other officers punched, kicked, and slammed the plaintiff to the ground, causing him pain and loss of consciousness. When he awoke, unnamed defendants were restraining him and photographing his bruised face. ...