William J. Russo

Deputy Inspector at Internal Affairs Bureau since July 2023, active
Also served at Detective Bureau, 60th Precinct, Gang Squad Brooklyn South
Service started August 1993, made $212,000 last year, Tax #904972
White Male

Lawsuit settlements:
$2,500   Smith, Kenneth, et al. vs City of New York, et al., 2015 SDNY SDNY 15CV05030
$75,000   Prekas, Marko vs City of New York, et al., 2014 EDNY EDNY 14CV05744
View Details

Complaints

6 Complaints
7 Allegations
0 Substantiated
1 Complainant Uncooperative
2 Complaint Withdrawn
2 Exonerated
2 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #201401429, February 2014
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201209148, July 2012
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #201202706, February 2012
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #200613273, September 2006
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: White Male, 57
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200409446, September 2004
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Female, 28
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #9702566, June 1997
Allegation: Force: Push/Shove
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property Seized
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
additional details

Complaint #201401429, February 2014
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #201209148, July 2012
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #201202706, February 2012
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #200613273, September 2006
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) White Male, 57 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200409446, September 2004
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Word Black Female, 28 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #9702566, June 1997
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Force: Push/Shove Complaint Withdrawn
Abuse of Authority: Property Seized Complaint Withdrawn
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.
'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, $77,500 total settlements.

Smith, Kenneth, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV05030, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, June 30, 2015, ended June 1, 2016
$2,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On January 23, 2015, Plaintiffs Kenneth Smith and Rylawn Walker, African American men, were behaving lawfully and not acting in a suspicious manner when they were approached, accosted, falsely arrested, and falsely imprisoned by the Defendant NYPD Officers. Each Plaintiff was imprisoned approximately 24 hours after his unlawful arrest and compelled to make numerous court appearances until June 11, 2015, when the criminal charges were dismissed. While the Plaintiffs were being held, Defendant NYPD Officer Robert Woodhouse, with the acquiescence of the other defendants, misrepresented facts in the police reports and other documents to falsely state the Plaintiffs had committed offenses including possessing mari...

Prekas, Marko vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV05744, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 14, 2014, ended October 30, 2015
$75,000 Settlement
Complaint, Second Amended Complaint
Description: On March 13, 2012, ten NYPD officers executed a search warrant at 311 Gordon Street, Staten Island, but unlawfully entered and searched Marko Prekas' separate basement apartment, not covered by the warrant. Michael Driscoll And Robert Patelli, entered Prekas’ apartment with firearms. Prekas was awakened by an officer pointing guns at him. When PREKAS stood up out of his bed, a defendant officer pressed his firearm against Prekas’ chest and a defendant officer, believed to be Robert Patelli, handcuffed Prekas without cause. Defendants Matthew Edelman, Donald Stewart, Luis Torino, William Russo, Kevin Sills, Matthew Bilotti, Michael Zak, and Dennis Maira, entered the location and searched both the first floor and...

Patterson, Christian vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV05330, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, August 4, 2014, ended March 9, 2016
Settlement
Complaint, Third Amended Complaint
Description: On June 12, 2014, between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., plaintiff was at his home in Staten Island. During that time, the defendant NYPD officers, including Detective John Fahim and Captain William Russo, forcibly entered without a warrant. They broke down plaintiff's door, threw him violently to the floor, and handcuffed him. When plaintiff asked to see a search warrant, one of the officers placed his knee on plaintiff's handcuffed hand, causing severe injuries.

Thomas et al v. City of New York et al
Case # 14CV07513, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
Amended Complaint, Second Amended Complaint

Smith et al v. The City Of New York , et al
Case # 16CV00845, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
Amended Complaint, Original Complaint
Description: Plaintiffs were approached and arrested by defendant officers, taken into custody, and charged with 220.03 and 221.05. Charges were later dismissed.