Derek J. Epstein

Derek J. Epstein

Derek J. Epstein
Lieutenant Commander Detective at Intelligence Division since July 2023, active
Service started July 2005, made $205,000 last year, Tax #938436
White Male, 39

Substantiated Allegations:
Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises

Discipline Cases:

Case: 2020-21904
Closed: 12/23/2022

View Details

Lawsuit settlements:
$15,000   Lewis, Richard vs City of New York, et al., 2020 EDNY EDNY 20CV02415
$30,000   Blackman, Marie vs City of New York, et al., 2020 KCSC KCSC 509247/2020
$19,600   Johnson, Paul vs City of New York, et al., 2014 EDNY EDNY 14CV01601
View Details

Complaints

8 Complaints
18 Allegations
1 Substantiated
1 Substantiated (Command Lvl Instructions)
2 Complainant Uncooperative
4 Exonerated
2 Unfounded
9 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #201902210, March 2019
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
Complainant: Black Female, 47
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
Complainant: Black Female, 47
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Lvl Instructions)
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Female, 47
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
Complainant: Black Female, 47
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of recording device
Complainant: Black Female, 47
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Penalty: Formalized Training
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201909647, September 2018
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: Black Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201505151, June 2015
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
Complainant: Asian Female, 22
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Asian Female, 22
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Offensive Language: Race
Complainant: Asian Female, 22
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201009665, July 2010
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 34
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question
Complainant: Black Male, 34
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #201006634, May 2010
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
Complainant: White Male, 61
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201000167, January 2010
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
Complainant: Black Male, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Other
Complainant: Black Male, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #200810260, July 2008
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Female, 36
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Female, 36
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #200907973, January 2008
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: White Male, 30
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201902210, March 2019
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Black Female, 47 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Black Female, 47 Substantiated (Command Lvl Instructions)
Discourtesy: Word Black Female, 47 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Black Female, 47 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Search of recording device Black Female, 47 Unfounded
Penalty: Formalized Training
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201909647, September 2018
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 31 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Black Male, 31 Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201505151, June 2015
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Asian Female, 22 Unsubstantiated
Force: Physical force Asian Female, 22 Exonerated
Offensive Language: Race Asian Female, 22 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201009665, July 2010
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 34 Complainant Uncooperative
Abuse of Authority: Question Black Male, 34 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #201006634, May 2010
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number White Male, 61 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201000167, January 2010
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Black Male, 32 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Other Black Male, 32 Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #200810260, July 2008
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Word Black Female, 36 Exonerated
Force: Physical force Black Female, 36 Unfounded
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #200907973, January 2008
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force White Male, 30 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.


Discipline

Case: 2020-21904
Closed: 12/23/2022
Case Details:
  1. Improper search of premise.
Penalty: Training
Recommendation: Instructions


Lawsuits

Named in 3 known lawsuits, $64,600 total settlements.

Lewis, Richard vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 20CV02415, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, July 14, 2020, ended March 15, 2022
$15,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On March 3, 2019, Mr. Lewis was at a friend’s event at 1233 Flatbush Avenue – Mr. Lewis’s friend had rented out the venue for a child’s birthday party. Lieutenant Epstein and Officer Jean-Pierre entered at around 8:00 pm that evening and instructed the music be turned off and the party be shut down, alleging (incorrectly) that alcohol was being served. As Mr. Lewis was assisting his friend in cleaning the venue, the officers approached him and asked him if he worked there – he told them that he did not and was just attending a party and was helping his friend clean. An officer called and spoke to the owner of the venue on speakerphone and was informed that Mr. Lewis did not work there – he was arrested anyway, ...

Blackman, Marie vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 509247/2020, Supreme Court - Kings, June 5, 2020, ended November 17, 2020
$30,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On March 3, 2019, Defendant Lieutenant Epstein arrested a patron of Plaintiff Marie Blackman's restaurant on a false claim that the restaurant was selling alcohol without a license. Plaintiff Mrs. Blackman informed Defendant Lieutenant Epstein that the patron did not work for her, and charges against the patron were eventually dismissed. However, a week later, Defendant Lieutenant Epstein again showed up at Mrs. Blackman's restaurant. He claimed that because of the arrest the previous week, he had to search the restaurant. Defendant Lieutenant Epstein then found a bottle of non-alcoholic Curacao syrup and arrested Mrs. Blackman on a false claim of illegally possessing alcoholic beverages. Mrs. Blackman was then...

Johnson, Paul vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV01601, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, March 17, 2014, ended January 21, 2015
$19,600 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about February 23, 2013, Plaintiff was on his way from his home to buy some food for his daughter when he was stopped by two non-uniformed officers, Sgt Baronette and Officer Urena. The two officers had no lawful reason to stop Plaintiff. They proceeded to slam him into a gate and search his pockets. Plaintiff thought he was being robbed and protested. Officer Urena made clear that they were police officers, and Plaintiff asked for identification. Officer Urena flashed her badge from around her neck. Plaintiff repeated his request for identification, and Sgt. Baronette stated, "My fucking ID will be on your arrest report." The two officers did not arrest Plaintiff. Plaintiff called 911 and Sgt. Garcia and...

Other Documents