Robert E. Obrien

Badge #187, White Male
Former Detective Grade 3 at Criminal Intelligence Section
Service started July 2007, ended January 2026, Tax #944854

Substantiated Allegations:
Abuse of Authority: Stop


Lawsuit Settlements:
$85,000   Williams, Richard vs City of New York, et al., 2020 EDNY EDNY 20CV02560
$112,500   Johnson, Dwayne vs City of New York, et al., 2018 KCSC KCSC 524187/2017
$17,500   Alford v. The City of New York et al, EDNY EDNY 14CV07096
View Details

Complaints

7 Complaints
13 Allegations
1 Substantiated
1 Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
1 Complainant Uncooperative
6 Exonerated
2 Unable to Determine
1 Unfounded
2 Within NYPD Guidelines

Complaint #202503304, March 2025
Allegation: Force: Vehicle
Complainant: Black Male, 15-17
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #202405539, June 2024
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
Complainant: Black Female, 18-20
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
additional details

Complaint #202302632, March 2023
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
Complainant: Male, 60-64
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
Complainant: Male, 60-64
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
additional details

Complaint #202000040, January 2020
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
Complainant: Black Female, 56
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201606686, August 2016
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 19
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Penalty: Formalized Training
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201509645, November 2015
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #200817778, December 2008
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question
Complainant: Black Male, 23
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 23
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #202503304, March 2025
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Vehicle Black Male, 15-17 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #202405539, June 2024
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Black Male, 35-39 Unfounded
Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Black Male, 35-39 Unable to Determine
Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Black Female, 18-20 Unable to Determine
additional details
Complaint #202302632, March 2023
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Male, 60-64 Within NYPD Guidelines
Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Male, 60-64 Within NYPD Guidelines
additional details
Complaint #202000040, January 2020
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Black Female, 56 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #201606686, August 2016
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 19 Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Penalty: Formalized Training
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201509645, November 2015
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched Exonerated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #200817778, December 2008
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Question Black Male, 23 Exonerated
Force: Physical force Black Male, 23 Exonerated
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.
'Unable to Determine': The alleged conduct was investigated but could not determine both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules.
'Unfounded': Evidence suggests that the event or alleged conduct did not occur.
'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.


Lawsuits

Named in 3 known lawsuits, $215,000 total settlements.

Williams, Richard vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 20CV02560, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, June 11, 2020, ended January 31, 2023
$85,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about the morning of September 18, 2018, Plaintiff was asleep in his single-family residence that he shared with other people. Plaintiff woke in his bedroom when he heard noise in the hallway and Defendant NYPD Officer Vahey entered dressed in SWAT gear and holding a battering ram. Defendant Vahey struck Plaintiff in the forehead with the ram, handcuffed Plaintiff, and arrested him. Plaintiff was taken to the 81st Precinct and was then charged with possessing an illegal imitation pistol that Defendant O'Brien falsely testified was found in Plaintiff's bedroom when it was actually discovered in a different part of the house. Plaintiff was released on his own recognizance and all charges were eventually dis...

Johnson, Dwayne vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 524187/2017, Supreme Court - Kings, April 4, 2018, ended September 16, 2021
$112,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On June 18, 2015, at approximately 11PM, the plaintiff, Dwayne Johnson, was lawfully in the vicinity of Fulton Street and Buffalo Avenue, Kings County, New York, when he was approached by the defendants, NYPD officers, and stopped, searched, grabbed, handcuffed, assaulted and detained in an aggressive manner, after accusing the plaintiff having committed a crime. The complaint alleges that the plaintiff suffered battery in and about his head, neck, back, body and limbs. The plaintiff was detained at the police station and subjected to a strip search while in custody without legal justification and was arraigned based on false charges. The plaintiff was incarcerated for over 24 hours and was required to make num...

Alford v. The City of New York et al
Case # 14CV07096, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$17,500 Settlement
First Amended Complaint

Other Documents

Brooklyn DA Disclosure Letter references additional lawsuit 13CV2370