Joseph B. Rivera

Badge #647, Hispanic Male
Detective Grade 2 at Warrant Section since February 2024, active
Also served at Fugitive Enforcement Division, Fugitive Enforcement Division, Community Affairs Bureau, First Deputy Commissioner, 44th Precinct, Gang Squad Manhattan
Service started July 2005, made $174,000 last year, Tax #939321

Substantiated Allegations:
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises

Lawsuit settlements:
$35,000   Rucker, Tyrell vs City of New York, et al., 2016 SDNY SDNY 16CV00517
$32,500   Davis, Divine vs City of New York, et al., 2014 BCSC BCSC 306328/2014
$30,000   Vargas, Roberto vs P.O. Lizardo, Jose, et al., 2014 SDNY SDNY 14CV07410
$15,000   Hamilton, Curtis vs City of New York, et al., 2014 SDNY SDNY 14CV01976
$45,000   Heyliger, David vs City of New York, et al., 2014 NYCSC NYCSC 151203/2014
View Details

Complaints

16 Complaints
39 Allegations
2 Substantiated
2 Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
4 Complainant Uncooperative
2 Complaint Withdrawn
1 Exonerated
30 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #202002203, March 2020
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
Complainant: Black Female, 35-39
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Other
Complainant: Black Male, 18-20
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
APU Case Status: Pending
Penalty: APU - Decision Pending
additional details

Complaint #202000955, February 2020
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
Complainant: Female
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
Complainant: Female
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
additional details

Complaint #201904116, April 2019
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #201903229, April 2019
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat to damage/seize property
Complainant: Male, 55
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Male, 55
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number
Complainant: Male, 55
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201901580, August 2018
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201208933, July 2012
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Male, 14
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Male, 14
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201115221, November 2011
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 25
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 25
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201106595, March 2011
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Black Male, 34
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Male, 34
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201101586, February 2011
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
Complainant: White Male, 28
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Action
Complainant: White Male, 28
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
Complainant: White Male, 28
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: White Male, 28
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201100996, January 2011
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 35
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 35
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200903405, November 2008
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: Black Male, 34
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200812230, August 2008
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Male, 18
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: Male, 18
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #200718135, December 2007
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 30
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 30
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200705160, April 2007
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Male, 30
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Black Male, 30
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question
Complainant: Black Male, 30
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200614604, October 2006
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 0-9
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 0-9
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200607965, June 2006
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Male, 26
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop
Complainant: Black Male, 26
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 26
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Action
Complainant: Black Male, 26
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 26
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #202002203, March 2020
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Black Female, 35-39 Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Abuse of Authority: Other Black Male, 18-20 Unsubstantiated
APU Case Status: Pending
Penalty: APU - Decision Pending
additional details
Complaint #202000955, February 2020
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Female Complaint Withdrawn
Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Female Complaint Withdrawn
additional details
Complaint #201904116, April 2019
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Complainant Uncooperative
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #201903229, April 2019
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Threat to damage/seize property Male, 55 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Word Male, 55 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number Male, 55 Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201901580, August 2018
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Black Male, 25-29 Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201208933, July 2012
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Male, 14 Unsubstantiated
Force: Physical force Male, 14 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201115221, November 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Word Hispanic Male, 25 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Hispanic Male, 25 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201106595, March 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Black Male, 34 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Male, 34 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201101586, February 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest White Male, 28 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Action White Male, 28 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number White Male, 28 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Word White Male, 28 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201100996, January 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 35 Exonerated
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 35 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200903405, November 2008
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Black Male, 34 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200812230, August 2008
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Male, 18 Complainant Uncooperative
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Male, 18 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #200718135, December 2007
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 30 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 30 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200705160, April 2007
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Male, 30 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Black Male, 30 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Question Black Male, 30 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200614604, October 2006
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 0-9 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 0-9 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200607965, June 2006
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Male, 26 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop Black Male, 26 Unsubstantiated
Force: Physical force Black Male, 26 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Action Black Male, 26 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 26 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 5 known lawsuits, $157,500 total settlements.

Rucker, Tyrell vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 16CV00517, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, February 26, 2016, ended October 4, 2017
$35,000 Settlement
Complaint, Amended Complaint
Description: 1st Incident: On June 17, 2012 at approximately 7:30 p.m., plaintiff, who was then fourteen years old, was a lawful pedestrian on East Broadway, near Essex Street, when defendant officers approached him, made rude comments about his weight, then arrested him for talking back. Plaintiff was held handcuffed for a bit until being released with no charges. 2nd incident: On July 5, 2012 at approximately 7:30 p.m., plaintiff, was a lawful pedestrian on Madison Street, near East Broadway, when Defendant officers approached hum, assaulted him, arrested him, took him to the 13th Precinct, and then released him later without being charged.

Davis, Divine vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 306328/2014, Supreme Court - Bronx, December 17, 2014, ended December 15, 2015
$32,500 Settlement

Vargas, Roberto vs P.O. Lizardo, Jose, et al.
Case # 14CV07410, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, September 15, 2014, ended February 4, 2015
$30,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was arrested twice. The first time plaintiff was walking towards his motorcycle when defendant officers approached him and demanded a driver's license. Because he was not driving his motorcycle, he did not have one and he was brought to the 32nd precinct and charged for driving without a license. The second time plaintiff was driving a vehicle on the street when defendant officers pulled him over. They unlawfully searched plaintiff and found candy. Plaintiff was then charged with possession cracked cocaine. Defendant officers also refused to give plaintiff medical treatment for his asthma attacks. All charges were dismissed.

Hamilton, Curtis vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV01976, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, June 18, 2014, ended December 16, 2014
$15,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On March 22, 2011 Plaintiff was sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by NYPD Lieutenant Sean Frey, Captain Michael Cody, Officer Joseph Rivera and another. For no reason, Plaintiff was forcibly removed from his vehicle and both him and the vehicle was searched. They found prescription medications, which Plaintiff explained. Nevertheless, he was arrested and falsely charged.

Heyliger, David vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 151203/2014, Supreme Court - New York, February 11, 2014, ended July 10, 2014
$45,000 Settlement

Other Documents

Brooklyn DA Disclosure Letter references additional CCRB complaint #201100539