Douglas L. Kautter

Lieutenant at Manhattan Court Section since May 2025
Also served at 40th Precinct, 70th Precinct
Service started July 2004, made $176,000 last year, Tax #935093
White Male

Substantiated Allegations:
Abuse of Authority: Improper use of body-worn camera
Discourtesy: Word

Discipline Cases:

Case: 2023-29633
Closed: 5/17/2024
Case: 2022-24641
Closed: 4/26/2022
Case: 2022-24642
Closed: 4/26/2022
Case: 2 Allegations

View Details

Lawsuit Settlements:
$50,000   Andre, Charles vs City of Ny, et al., 2023 EDNY EDNY 23CV08009
$55,000   Tess, Clint vs City of New York, et al., 2018 EDNY EDNY 18CV06542
$45,000   Cazeau, Winshey vs City of New York, et al., 2017 EDNY EDNY 17CV02294
$20,000   Odutola, Orunmila vs City of New York, et al., 2013 BCSC BCSC 020794/2013E
View Details

Complaints

6 Complaints
14 Allegations
2 Substantiated
2 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
1 Complainant Uncooperative
1 Complaint Withdrawn
3 Exonerated
1 Unfounded
3 Unsubstantiated
3 Within NYPD Guidelines

Complaint #202207547, October 2022
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
Complainant: Female, 75-79
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Improper use of body-worn camera
Complainant: Female, 75-79
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital
Complainant: Female, 75-79
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
NYPD Conclusion: Command Discipline - A
Penalty: Command Discipline - A (Vacation: 0.25 days)
additional details

Complaint #202205469, August 2022
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Male, 55-59
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Male, 55-59
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
additional details

Complaint #202000881, December 2019
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 45-49
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 45-49
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Conclusion: No Disciplinary Action-DUP
Penalty: No penalty
additional details

Complaint #201803474, April 2018
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Male, 34
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
additional details

Complaint #201602041, November 2015
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Black Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Black Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201309576, October 2013
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 38
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #202207547, October 2022
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Female, 75-79 Within NYPD Guidelines
Abuse of Authority: Improper use of body-worn camera Female, 75-79 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital Female, 75-79 Within NYPD Guidelines
NYPD Conclusion: Command Discipline - A
Penalty: Command Discipline - A (Vacation: 0.25 days)
additional details
Complaint #202205469, August 2022
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Male, 55-59 Within NYPD Guidelines
Discourtesy: Word Male, 55-59 Unfounded
additional details
Complaint #202000881, December 2019
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital Hispanic Male, 45-49 Exonerated
Discourtesy: Word Hispanic Male, 45-49 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Conclusion: No Disciplinary Action-DUP
Penalty: No penalty
additional details
Complaint #201803474, April 2018
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Male, 34 Complaint Withdrawn
additional details
Complaint #201602041, November 2015
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Male, 31 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Black Male, 31 Exonerated
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 31 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Black Male, 31 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 31 Exonerated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201309576, October 2013
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint Hispanic Male, 38 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Conclusion Meanings:

'Exonerated': or 'Within NYPD Guidelines' - The conduct occurred but did not violate the NYPD's own rules, which often give officers significant discretion.
'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.
'Unsubstantiated': or 'Unable to Determine' - The alleged conduct was investigated but could not determine both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules.
'Within NYPD Guidelines': The conduct occurred but did not violate the NYPD's own rules, which often give officers significant discretion.

Further details on conclusions.


Discipline

Case: 2023-29633
Closed: 5/17/2024
Case Details:
  1. Failed to activate their body worn camera.
Penalty: A - Command Discipline, forfeiture of time/leave balances
Recommendation: Command Discipline - A

Case: 2022-24641
Closed: 4/26/2022
Case Details:
  1. Wrongfully discourteous to an individual known to the Department.
Recommendation: Command Discipline - A

Case: 2022-24642
Closed: 4/26/2022
Case Details:
  1. Failed to make required entries in Department logs.
Recommendation: Other

Case Details:
  1. Failed to make required entries in Department logs.
  2. Failed to take police action
Penalty: B - Command Discipline, vacation days (5 days)
Recommendation: Command Discipline - B


Lawsuits

Named in 5 known lawsuits, $170,000 total settlements.

Andre, Charles vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 23CV08009, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 31, 2023, ended June 27, 2024
$50,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On August 24, 2022, plaintiff was standing on the sidewalk waiting to hail a cab. Another unrelated individual threw a bottle toward a garbage can but missed, causing defendant Zubair to begin chasing that individual and to call for backup. Backup officers—including defendants Kauttner, Chow, Elrowmeim, Dominguez, Murukkuwadura, and Campos—arrived at the scene and began to harass plaintiff. They then forcibly grabbed him, handcuffed him, and placed him in the back of a police car. They left him in the hot car without an open window or air conditioning for an excessive amount of time. They then kept him in custody, and ddefendant Zubair made false statements to the Kings County District Attorney, causing plainti...

Tess, Clint vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 18CV06542, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, December 19, 2018, ended May 3, 2021
$55,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about June 16, 2016, in the vicinity of Surf Avenue and West 5th Street in Brooklyn, NY, plaintiff was driving with two friends. Plaintiff was pulled over by Police Officer Francis Jackson and L.t. Kautter. These officers falsely told plaintiff that he had two suspended licenses and two warrants. Plaintiff was taken behind the police car and handcuffed. Police Officer Eltabib and Police Officer John Sanchez arrived on the scene. Eltabib, without cause, shoved plaintiff, causing him to fall backwards. The other officers failed to intervene. Plaintiff, who has sickle cell anemia, was in severe pain and breathing heavily after the hit and asked to be taken to the hospital 15-20 times but was denied. Plaintif...

Cazeau, Winshey vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 17CV02294, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, April 19, 2017, ended December 26, 2017
$45,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On October 16, 2016, officer Michael Difede, sergeant Timothy Glant, officer Elvis Alcivar, officer Kevin Lafontant, lieutenant Douglas Kautter, and sergeant Gordon Frasier, as well as five unidentified officers, approached the plaintiff and pushed him to the ground. They smashed his head against the concrete ground, resulting in injuries and disfigurement. They sat on plaintiff’s back as he lay on the ground, with his face bleeding; another defendant pulled the plaintiff by his hair and smashed his face into the concrete, causing substantial pain. The plaintiff was then taken to the hospital and treated. The next day, he has severe wrist pain and bled from his head; upon return to the hospital, he was found ...

White, Marlow vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV06696, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, August 31, 2015, ended September 12, 2016
Zero Disposition
Amended Complaint, Complaint
Description: Plaintiff is a man of trans experience and was the victim of numerous hate crimes, chosen as a victim because of his gender identity. When the New York City Police Department was called to the scene of the first attack on Plaintiff's family by the assailant the responding officers witnessed Assailant's criminal behavior. The NYPD's officers refused to restrain or arrest Assailant and refused to take Plaintiff's criminal complaint against Assailant. To the contrary, the NYPD's officers joked with Assailant and indicated to witnesses, within earshot of Plaintiff and Assailant, that they preferred to return to clean up the mess after Assailant had murdered Plaintiff.

Odutola, Orunmila vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 020794/2013E, Supreme Court - Bronx, March 20, 2013, ended December 30, 2014
$20,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about December 29, 2011 Plaintiff was lawfully present in an apartment when he was accosted by PO Edwin Ayala, PO Julio Nunez, PO Jose Rodriguez, and Sgt. Douglas Kautter, who maliciously assaulted, attacked, and verbally abused Plaintiff without legal justification. Plaintiff was handcuffed and arrested, after which POs continued their unprovoked assault. Each PO should have intervened to prevent or reduce the violation of Plaintiff's rights but none of them did. Plaintiff suffered physical pain, mental anguish, shock, fright, apprehension, embarrassment, and humiliation as a result of this incident.

Other Documents