Richard Cohen

Badge #1933, White Male
Former Sergeant at Police Service Area 7
Also served at 60th Precinct
Service started February 1994, ended August 2020, Tax #905584

Substantiated Allegations:
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)

Lawsuit settlements:
$125,000   Reynolds, Keemont, et al. vs City of New York, et al., 2019 KCSC KCSC 518938/2019
$24,000   Greenberg, Mark vs City of New York, et al., 2014 EDNY EDNY 14CV05307
View Details

Complaints

9 Complaints
20 Allegations
1 Substantiated
1 Substantiated (Formalized Training)
3 Complainant Uncooperative
3 Complaint Withdrawn
3 Exonerated
1 Unfounded
9 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #201808031, September 2018
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Female, 21
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #201804175, May 2018
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital
Complainant: Black Female, 57
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital
Complainant: Black Female, 57
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Action
Complainant: Black Female, 57
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Female, 57
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Offensive Language: Race
Complainant: Black Female, 57
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Female, 57
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Penalty: Formalized Training
additional details

Complaint #201704146, May 2017
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: White Male, 39
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201301984, March 2013
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint
Complainant: White Male, 25
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
Complainant: White Male, 25
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
Complainant: White Male, 25
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
additional details

Complaint #201112028, September 2011
Allegation: Force: Pepper spray
Complainant: Male, 25
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #201108723, July 2011
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: White Male, 52
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: White Male, 52
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200505682, May 2005
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop
Complainant: Black Female, 43
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Female, 43
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat to notify ACS
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #200503566, March 2005
Allegation: Discourtesy: Demeanor/tone
Complainant: Female
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #9704346, November 1997
Allegation: Force: Push/Shove
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201808031, September 2018
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Female, 21 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #201804175, May 2018
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital Black Female, 57 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital Black Female, 57 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Action Black Female, 57 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Word Black Female, 57 Unsubstantiated
Offensive Language: Race Black Female, 57 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Female, 57 Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Penalty: Formalized Training
additional details
Complaint #201704146, May 2017
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force White Male, 39 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201301984, March 2013
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint White Male, 25 Complaint Withdrawn
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number White Male, 25 Complaint Withdrawn
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest White Male, 25 Complaint Withdrawn
additional details
Complaint #201112028, September 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Pepper spray Male, 25 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #201108723, July 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) White Male, 52 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Word White Male, 52 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200505682, May 2005
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop Black Female, 43 Exonerated
Discourtesy: Word Black Female, 43 Unfounded
Abuse of Authority: Threat to notify ACS Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #200503566, March 2005
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Demeanor/tone Female Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #9704346, November 1997
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Force: Push/Shove Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force Unsubstantiated
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.
'Unfounded': Evidence suggests that the event or alleged conduct did not occur.
'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 3 known lawsuits, $149,000 total settlements.

Reynolds, Keemont, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 518938/2019, Supreme Court - Kings, September 4, 2019, ended June 24, 2020
$125,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On September 20, 2018, the defendant police officers unlawfully stopped and questioned the plaintiffs without cause or legal justification. The defendant officers forcibly grabbed one of the plaintiffs, tackled him, slammed him to the floor, punched him in the ribs, and kicked him, causing physical injury to his chin, hand, forehead, and ribs. The defendant officers handcuffed said plaintiff for no legal reason. At no time herein did either plaintiffs commit a crime or violate the law in any way, nor did the police officer have an objective reason to accuse plaintiff committing a crime or violating the law in any way. The defendant officers even called one of the plaintiffs a "black bitch” and threatened to loc...

Chepilko, Sergei vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV04173, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, January 15, 2015, ended October 17, 2018
Order/Judgment (Verdict)
Complaint
Description: On July 4, 2011, Plaintiff was selling photographs on the street in Kings County, NY. NYPD PO Burton approached Plaintiff and stated Plaintiff was not a licensed vendor and therefore was prohibited from selling photos. Plaintiff tried to write PO Burton’s badge number down. PO Burton handcuffed Plaintiff and dragged him to a group of NYPD officers. The officers kicked Plaintiff’s legs and did not address Plaintiff’s complaints of overly-tight handcuffs. Later, while in a holding cell, NYPD Sgt. Cohen made a statement that Plaintiff considered a sexual threat. Plaintiff was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct which were both dismissed.

Greenberg, Mark vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV05307, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, September 24, 2014, ended March 23, 2015
$24,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On May 12, 2013, Plaintiff had some interaction with Defendant Kang Lin who alleged that Plaintiff stole a parking spot from him, and police ignored the matter without reason to arrest anyone. Described in the Complaint as "several weeks later" Plaintiff was arrested after Kang Lin allegedly made false allegations that Plaintiff had attempted to strangle him. Plaintiff is a retired police officer, and there was question about whether Plaintiff should not be arrested given the lack of evidence aside from the allegations of Defendant Lin. It was decided that Plaintiff should be arrested apparently for the avoidance of improper preferential treatment appearing to be given to Plaintiff for being a retired police of...

Other Documents

Brooklyn DA Disclosure Letter references additional CCRB complaint #201603928