Sandy M. Polanco

Badge #4789, Hispanic Male
Former Detective Grade 3 at 40th Precinct Detective Squad
Also served at 48th Precinct
Service started July 2002, ended August 2022, Tax #930968

Substantiated Allegations:
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)

Lawsuit settlements:
$42,000   Ruiz, Derrick vs Polanco, Sandy, et al., 2014 SDNY SDNY 14CV07974
$25,000   Tapp, Ginny vs City of New York, et al., 2014 BCSC BCSC 301027/2014
$55,000   Martinez, Lyanna, & Aloy, Josue Infants By Mng Diaz, Maria vs City of New York, et al., 2013 BCSC BCSC 350322/2013
View Details

Complaints

9 Complaints
23 Allegations
2 Substantiated
2 Substantiated (Instructions)
3 Alleged Victim Uncooperative
4 Complainant Uncooperative
9 Exonerated
2 Unfounded
3 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #201116557, December 2011
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
Complainant: White Female, 61
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Instructions)
Penalty: Command Discipline - B
additional details

Complaint #201200127, December 2011
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to obtain medical treatment
Complainant: Black Male, 22
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 22
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201015389, October 2010
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 15
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #201004192, March 2010
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #200919636, December 2009
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Instructions)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Penalty: Instructions
additional details

Complaint #200914078, September 2009
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Female, 25
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
Complainant: Black Female, 25
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #200911852, May 2009
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #200717236, November 2007
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat to notify ACS
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 13
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 13
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 13
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Male, 13
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Uncooperative
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Male, 13
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Uncooperative
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Male, 13
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #200617195, December 2006
Allegation: Force: Pepper spray
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 23
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Force: Chokehold
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 15
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 23
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201116557, December 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number White Female, 61 Substantiated (Instructions)
Penalty: Command Discipline - B
additional details
Complaint #201200127, December 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to obtain medical treatment Black Male, 22 Unfounded
Force: Physical force Black Male, 22 Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #201015389, October 2010
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 15 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #201004192, March 2010
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #200919636, December 2009
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Hispanic Male, 32 Substantiated (Instructions)
Abuse of Authority: Stop Hispanic Male, 32 Exonerated
Discourtesy: Word Hispanic Male, 32 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Hispanic Male, 32 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Hispanic Male, 32 Exonerated
Penalty: Instructions
additional details
Complaint #200914078, September 2009
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Word Black Female, 25 Complainant Uncooperative
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Black Female, 25 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #200911852, May 2009
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #200717236, November 2007
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Threat to notify ACS Exonerated
Discourtesy: Word Hispanic Male, 13 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Stop Hispanic Male, 13 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Hispanic Male, 13 Exonerated
Discourtesy: Word Male, 13 Alleged Victim Uncooperative
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Male, 13 Alleged Victim Uncooperative
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Male, 13 Alleged Victim Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #200617195, December 2006
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Pepper spray Hispanic Female, 23 Exonerated
Force: Chokehold Hispanic Male, 15 Unfounded
Force: Physical force Hispanic Female, 23 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.
'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, $122,000 total settlements.

Ruiz, Derrick vs Polanco, Sandy, et al.
Case # 14CV07974, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, October 2, 2014, ended June 30, 2015
$42,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On July 18, 2012, plaintiff was sleeping at his apartment on East 179th Street in the Bronx, NY. Defendant officers kicked plaintiff's door in. Numerous defendants were in SWAT gear, and one defendant pointed an assault rifle at plaintiff. Plaintiff was handcuffed and thrown in the living room in front of his family. Plaintiff heard defendants say they found drugs in one of the bedrooms. Plaintiff was taken to the precinct and questioned about the drugs which he knew nothing about. He was then taken to Central Booking and arraigned the next day and released. His blackberry was taken and never returned. Plaintiff returned home to find defendants had destroyed the furniture in his apartment. Plaintiff was indicte...

Tapp, Ginny vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 301027/2014, Supreme Court - Bronx, March 31, 2014, ended October 20, 2015
$25,000 Settlement

Martinez, Lyanna, & Aloy, Josue Infants By Mng Diaz, Maria vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 350322/2013, Supreme Court - Bronx, December 20, 2013, ended November 13, 2014
$55,000 Settlement