Rafael A. Tatis

Badge #4309, Hispanic Male
Sergeant at Bronx Court Section since February 2026
Also served at Criminal Intelligence Section, 1st Precinct, 26th Precinct, Patrol Borough Bronx Impact Response Team, 50th Precinct, Brooklyn Court Section
Service started January 2009, made $137,000 last year, Tax #947951

Substantiated Allegations:
Force: Physical force

Discipline Cases:

Case: 2021-23042
Closed: 1/12/2021
Case: 2018-19437
Closed: 3/27/2019

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Lawsuit Settlements:
$9,000   Westwood, Chauncy vs City of New York, et al., 2017 SDNY SDNY 17CV01513
$48,000   Murphy, Tina, et al. vs City of New York, et al., 2016 SDNY SDNY 16CV05615
$9,000   Chericheri, Tahiiru vs City of New York, et al., 2014 SDNY SDNY 14CV07270
$35,000   Hernandez, Julius vs City of New York, et al., 2013 SDNY SDNY 13CV05436
View Details

Complaints

4 Complaints
5 Allegations
1 Substantiated
1 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
2 Complaint Withdrawn
2 Unfounded

Complaint #201907671, August 2019
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Conclusion: APU Guilty
APU Case Status: Closed: Guilty after trial-PC Approved, November 23, 2022
Penalty: Forfeit vacation 20 days
Documents: APU Quarterly Report summary
additional details

Complaint #201408943, August 2014
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: White Male, 51
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
additional details

Complaint #201409109, March 2014
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 26
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 26
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
additional details

Complaint #201010931, August 2010
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Female, 37
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
additional details

Complaint #201907671, August 2019
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 32 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Conclusion: APU Guilty
APU Case Status: Closed: Guilty after trial-PC Approved, November 23, 2022
Penalty: Forfeit vacation 20 days
Documents: APU Quarterly Report summary
additional details
Complaint #201408943, August 2014
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force White Male, 51 Unfounded
additional details
Complaint #201409109, March 2014
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Hispanic Male, 26 Complaint Withdrawn
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Hispanic Male, 26 Complaint Withdrawn
additional details
Complaint #201010931, August 2010
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Word Black Female, 37 Unfounded
additional details

Conclusion Meanings:

'Substantiated': The misconduct 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.

Further details on conclusions.


Discipline

Case: 2021-23042
Closed: 1/12/2021
Case Details:
  1. Guilty: Wrongfully used force against a person known to the Department.
Penalty: Vacation days (20 days)

Case: 2018-19437
Closed: 3/27/2019
Case Details:
  1. Guilty: .
Penalty: Counseling, dismissal probation (12 months), ordered breath testing, pre-trial suspension days (32 days), vacation days (23 days)


Lawsuits

Named in 6 known lawsuits, $101,000 total settlements.

Owens, Nathaniel vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 709646/2022, Supreme Court - Queens, May 12, 2022
Complaint
Description: On August 17, 2019, PO Rafael Tatis intentionally, unlawfully, maliciously and wrongfully assaulted, battered, and kicked Plaintiff. As a result, Plaintiff suffered serious, severe, painful and permanent bodily injuries.

Kulmeier, Christopher vs P.O. Tatis, Rafael, et al.
Case # 158345/2018, Supreme Court - New York, October 22, 2018
Complaint
Description: On September 8, 2015, the plaintiff was approached by the Undercover Police Officer C0324 in the McDonalds and asked if he wanted to purchase heroin. The plaintiff told the Undercover Officer that he was not interested in buying heroin. After the plaintiff exited the McDonalds, the defendants police officers approached him, and subjected him to an unlawful stop, question, frisk, and search without reasonable suspicion. The defendants threw plaintiff's body against a nearby wall. Although the defendants lacked probable cause to arrest plaintiff, they unlawfully handcuffed him and falsely arrested/imprisoned him. On September 9, 2015, the plaintiff was charged with committing felony crimes that he did not commit...

Westwood, Chauncy vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 17CV01513, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, March 16, 2017, ended October 25, 2017
$9,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was approached by multiple police officers and searched. No guns, drugs, or contraband were found on the plaintiff's person, but he was still placed in handcuffs and arrested. Allegedly, officers provided a false report to prosecutors.

Murphy, Tina, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 16CV05615, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, July 20, 2016, ended June 16, 2017
$48,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: The plaintiffs were walking to a deli on the street when they were suddenly tackled by officers in plain clothes, were assaulted, handcuffed, and brought to a nearby precinct. Once at the precinct, the plaintiffs were strip searched and no drugs were found. The plaintiffs were charged with resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. The charges were dismissed.

Chericheri, Tahiiru vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV07270, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, September 18, 2014, ended February 27, 2015
$9,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On September 11, 2013, Plaintiff was looking for a parking space inn the Bronx when he noticed an unmarked vehicle following him. Defendant Officer Tatis flashed his red lights and signaled Plaintiff to pull over, Plaintiff complied immediately. Defendant Officer Tatis and an unnamed Defendant Officer approached the vehicle. Defendant Officers asked Plaintiff for his license and registration which Plaintiff provided. Then Defendants asked Plaintiff where he was from and why his eyes were red, Plaintiff replied that he was tired. Defendant Officer Tatis then said to his partner "did you hear this fucking African talking about he's tired? I'm more fucking tired than him." Defendant Officers walked to their vehicl...

Hernandez, Julius vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV05436, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, August 8, 2013, ended December 19, 2013
$35,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about December 30, 2011, Plaintiff was accosted by Defendant officers on the street. Without evidence of criminal activity or probable cause, Defendants immediately grabbed Plaintiff, choked him, threw him against a gate, and then placed him under arrest, handcuffing his arms tightly behind his back, and transported him to a nearby precinct. Plaintiff was falsely charged with Resisting Arrest, Obstructing Governmental Administration, Attempted Assault, and Disorderly Conduct and was also given a summons for Spitting in Public. In connection with Plaintiff’s arrest, Defendants filed false and misleading information to the District Attorney’s Office, stating that Plaintiff flailed his arms, twisted his body...

Other Documents

NYPD Trial Decision 11/23/2022