Raphael Sylvestre

Badge #1629, Black Male
Former Police Officer at Transit Bureau District 33
Service started February 1994, ended October 2021, Tax #912084

Substantiated Allegations:
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)

Lawsuit settlements:
$60,000   Ruiz, Bobby vs Shahbaz, Moshan, et al., 2019 KCSC KCSC 505151/2019
View Details

Complaints

2 Complaints
4 Allegations
1 Substantiated
1 Substantiated (Formalized Training)
2 Exonerated
1 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #201701980, March 2017
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording
Complainant: Female, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: Black Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Formalized Training)
NYPD Conclusion: No Disciplinary Action-DUP
Penalty: No penalty
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #200510958, September 2005
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
Complainant: Black Female, 43
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201701980, March 2017
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 17 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording Female, 17 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Black Male, 17 Substantiated (Formalized Training)
NYPD Conclusion: No Disciplinary Action-DUP
Penalty: No penalty
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #200510958, September 2005
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Black Female, 43 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.
'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

Ruiz, Bobby vs Shahbaz, Moshan, et al.
Case # 505151/2019, Supreme Court - Kings, April 19, 2019, ended December 2, 2019
$60,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On June 29, 2018, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Bobby Ruiz was on the J-Line Subway train at the Broadway Junction MTA Station in Brooklyn, NY, traveling back from a fishing trip and carrying his fishing gear. NYPD officers, including Mohammad Shabaz, Raphael Sylvestre, and Sergant Wiss Emile, approached the plaintiff without reasonable suspicition and asked him to use a different staircase in the subway station. He complied, but defendant Shabaz grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground. The police then searched him without his consent, handcuffed him, and placed him under arrest. The officers refused to tell Ruiz the reasons for his arrest. MTA surveillance cameras recorded the incident, and the polic...

Other Documents

Brooklyn DA Disclosure Letter