John S. Mejia

Badge #1253, Hispanic Male, 48
Sergeant Detective Squad at Fugitive Enforcement Unit since February 2025
Also served at 7th Precinct, Narcotics Borough Manhattan North
Service started July 2001, made $210,000 last year, Tax #928770

Substantiated Allegations:
Force: Handcuffs too tight
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to obtain medical treatment
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Abuse of Authority: Stop
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest

Discipline Cases:

Case: 2016-15082
Closed: 8/10/2016

View Details

Lawsuit Settlements:
$2,100,000   Hooper, Robert vs The City of Ny, et al., 2024 SDNY SDNY 24CV06311
$13,000   Grant, Thomas vs City of Ny, et al., 2021 SDNY SDNY 21CV01376
$30,000   Vargas, Robert vs City of New York, et al., 2018 EDNY EDNY 18CV03658
View Details

Articles

What It Looks Like When the New York City Police Commissioner Has “Unchecked Power” Over Officer Discipline, ProPublica, 12/11/2020

Complaints

10 Complaints
26 Allegations
5 Substantiated
4 Substantiated (Charges)
1 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
1 Alleged Victim Unavailable
5 Exonerated
1 Unable to Determine
3 Unfounded
10 Unsubstantiated
1 Within NYPD Guidelines

Complaint #202402893, March 2024
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Detention
Complainant: Black Male, 50-54
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
additional details

Complaint #202206279, September 2022
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Sex Miscon (Sexual Harassment, Verbal)
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 30-34
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
additional details

Complaint #201703514, April 2017
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to obtain medical treatment
Complainant: Black Male, 56
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201705845, April 2017
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to obtain medical treatment
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 43
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 43
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
Complainant: Male
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Unavailable
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 43
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 43
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Penalty: Command Discipline - A
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201600554, January 2016
Allegation: Discourtesy: Action
Complainant: Black Female, 53
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Female, 53
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
additional details

Complaint #201506936, August 2015
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 49
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Male, 49
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: Black Male, 49
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
Complainant: Black Male, 49
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Allegation: Force: Handcuffs too tight
Complainant: Black Male, 49
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 49
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
NYPD Conclusion: APU Guilty
APU Plea Penalty: Forfeit vacation 20 days
APU Case Status: Closed: Resolved by plea, May 29, 2018
Penalty: Forfeit vacation 10 days
Documents: APU Quarterly Report summary
Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201009710, June 2010
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
Complainant: White Male, 58
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
additional details

Complaint #201007193, May 2010
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
Complainant: Black Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Black Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200911845, April 2009
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
Complainant: Black Male, 25
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200812060, August 2008
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Female
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Female
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Female
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #202402893, March 2024
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Detention Black Male, 50-54 Within NYPD Guidelines
additional details
Complaint #202206279, September 2022
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Sex Miscon (Sexual Harassment, Verbal) Hispanic Male, 30-34 Unable to Determine
additional details
Complaint #201703514, April 2017
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to obtain medical treatment Black Male, 56 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201705845, April 2017
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to obtain medical treatment Hispanic Male, 43 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Hispanic Male, 43 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Male Alleged Victim Unavailable
Discourtesy: Word Hispanic Male, 43 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Hispanic Male, 43 Unsubstantiated
Penalty: Command Discipline - A
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201600554, January 2016
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Action Black Female, 53 Unfounded
Force: Physical force Black Female, 53 Unfounded
additional details
Complaint #201506936, August 2015
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 49 Substantiated (Charges)
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Male, 49 Substantiated (Charges)
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Black Male, 49 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Black Male, 49 Substantiated (Charges)
Force: Handcuffs too tight Black Male, 49 Substantiated (Charges)
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 49 Unsubstantiated
NYPD Conclusion: APU Guilty
APU Plea Penalty: Forfeit vacation 20 days
APU Case Status: Closed: Resolved by plea, May 29, 2018
Penalty: Forfeit vacation 10 days
Documents: APU Quarterly Report summary
Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201009710, June 2010
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number White Male, 58 Unfounded
additional details
Complaint #201007193, May 2010
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 17 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Black Male, 17 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 17 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Black Male, 17 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Male, 17 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200911845, April 2009
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Black Male, 25 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200812060, August 2008
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Female Exonerated
Discourtesy: Word Black Female Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Female Exonerated
additional details

Conclusion Meanings:

'Exonerated': or 'Within NYPD Guidelines' - The conduct occurred but did not violate the NYPD's own rules, which often give officers significant discretion.
'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.
'Unsubstantiated': or 'Unable to Determine' - The alleged conduct was investigated but could not determine both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules.
'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.


Discipline

Case: 2016-15082
Closed: 8/10/2016
Case Details:
  1. Guilty: While on duty, wrongfully used force against a civilian.
  2. Guilty: While on-duty, abused his authority as a member of the New York City Police Department, in that he searched an individual known to the Department without sufficient legal authority.
  3. Guilty: While on-duty, abused his authority as a member of the New York City Police Department.
  4. Guilty: While on-duty, wrongfully threatened to arrest a person known to the Department.
Penalty: Vacation days (10 days)


Lawsuits

Named in 6 known lawsuits, $2,143,000 total settlements.

Hooper, Robert vs The City of Ny, et al.
Case # 24CV06311, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, August 27, 2024, ended April 11, 2025
$2,100,000 Settlement

Grant, Thomas vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 21CV01376, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, February 18, 2021, ended April 6, 2023
$13,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On August 17, 2019, the Defendants, unlawfully stopped, questioned, searched, arrested, and detained the Plaintiff. The plaintiff was detained for over 72 hours. Subsequently, the DA refused to prosecute Plaintiff resulting in the determination of the criminal proceedings in favor of the Plaintiff.

Vargas, Robert vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 18CV03658, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, August 27, 2018, ended October 21, 2019
$30,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On June 28, 2017, plaintiff Robert Vargas left an apartment building when defendant police officers wearing plain clothes seized upon the plaintiff and began violently beating him and dragged him down to the ground where they continued their attack which also included using a police radio to hit the plaintiff. The defendants expressed that plaintiff should have worked with them when he had the chance, which was in reference to his refusal earlier that year to work as an informant for the NYPD Narcotics Bureau. Despite the plaintiff suffering serious and visible injuries and having trouble breathing, the defendants failed to secure the necessary medical care and instead arrested plaintiff and brought him to the ...

Howard, Douglas vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 113452/2010, Supreme Court - New York, October 22, 2010, ended February 15, 2016
Zero Disposition

Espinal, Adrian Lora vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 150090/2010, Supreme Court - New York, May 12, 2010, ended February 6, 2023
Zero Disposition

Howard, Douglas vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 310241/2009, Supreme Court - Bronx, January 5, 2010, ended May 9, 2017
Administrative Closing