Rene Castellano

Badge #951, Hispanic Male
Sergeant at Internal Affairs Bureau since November 2025
Service started July 2008, made $184,000 last year, Tax #946836

Lawsuit Settlements:
$20,000   Whitaker, Mondaray vs City of New York, et al., 2019 EDNY EDNY 18CV06897
$80,000   Bullock, Robert, et al. vs City of New York, et al., 2018 KCSC KCSC 523231/2018
$15,000   Grant, Leroy vs City of New York, et al., 2015 EDNY EDNY 15CV05005
$10,000   Ellis, Kenneth vs City of New York, et al., 2015 KCSC KCSC 509455/2015
$5,001   Miller, Dwayne vs City of New York, et al., 2015 EDNY EDNY 15CV01086
$25,000   Herrard, Evrard vs City of New York, et al., 2015 EDNY EDNY 15CV00744
View Details

Complaints

11 Complaints
22 Allegations
0 Substantiated
1 Complainant Uncooperative
12 Exonerated
9 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #201908277, September 2019
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 42
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 42
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201908534, August 2019
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 52
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #201906800, August 2019
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201900778, January 2019
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number
Complainant: Female, 40
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name
Complainant: Female, 40
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Female, 40
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201803488, May 2018
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
Complainant: Black Male, 27
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201802291, March 2018
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201704295, May 2017
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 29
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 29
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201603581, April 2016
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201407341, July 2014
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: Black Male, 43
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201307096, July 2013
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Male, 51
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: Male, 51
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201306932, July 2013
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Female, 46
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201908277, September 2019
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Hispanic Female, 42 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Hispanic Female, 42 Exonerated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201908534, August 2019
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 52 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #201906800, August 2019
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #201900778, January 2019
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number Female, 40 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name Female, 40 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Word Female, 40 Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201803488, May 2018
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Black Male, 27 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201802291, March 2018
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #201704295, May 2017
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 29 Unsubstantiated
Force: Physical force Black Male, 29 Exonerated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201603581, April 2016
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #201407341, July 2014
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Black Male, 43 Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #201307096, July 2013
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Male, 51 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Male, 51 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201306932, July 2013
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Female, 46 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.
'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.

Further details on conclusions.


Lawsuits

Named in 9 known lawsuits, $155,001 total settlements.

Bullock, Damian vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 526526/2019, Supreme Court - Kings, December 13, 2019
Complaint
Description: On or about May 12, 2018, at approximately 10:30 P.M., Damian Bullock's residence in Brooklyn, New York, was unlawfully entered by NYPD officers without a warrant. The officers arrested Bullock’s family without probable cause and informed him that he must turn himself in to secure their release. Upon doing so, Bullock was arrested at the 75th Precinct without warning or justification, while his family was released. He was subsequently charged with multiple offenses, including drug possession. On December 6, 2018, all charges against Bullock were dismissed by the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. Bullock spent four days in Riker's Island following his arrest and now seeks compensatory and punitive damages...

Bullock, Nathaniel vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 510242/2019, Supreme Court - Kings, May 10, 2019
Complaint
Description: On May 12, 2018, around 6:30p.m., plaintiff was within his apartment. The defendant officers unlawfully entered plaintiff’s apartment and without probable cause, they detained and arrested plaintiff. While in the plaintiff’s apartment, they performed an unlawful search and plaintiff’s property was damaged and destroyed. They placed excessively tight handcuffs on plaintiff before bringing him to the 75th precinct and then to Central Booking. They released plaintiff from Central Booking on May 13, 2018.

Whitaker, Mondaray vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 18CV06897, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, January 15, 2019, ended April 9, 2021
$20,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On August 17, 2016, defendant officers PO Rene Castellano [Sheild # 2610] arrested the plaintiff without cause and charged plaintiff with PL 220.21, PL 265.01, PL 221.05, PL 165.40. However, the plaintiff was not in possession of any controlled substance, weapon, or stolen property and did not commit any offense. Before his arrest, the Plaintiff was fixing a car with his friend and saw police officers enter a house about three buildings away. After arresting one guy inside the building, the officers approached the plaintiff and asked what was going on. After telling the officers he was fixing the car, the officer searched the Plaintiff and found nothing illegal. However, the superior officer instructed the offi...

Bullock, Robert, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 523231/2018, Supreme Court - Kings, November 19, 2018, ended September 1, 2020
$80,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On May 12, 2018, Plaintiffs R. Bullock, Murphy, J. Bullock, and Gibson were all residing in their respective apartments. Several unknown defendant officers and Defendant Castellano entered the Plaintiffs' apartments without reasonable or probable cause and arrested and detained the Plaintiffs. The Plaintiffs were handcuffed unreasonably and excessively tight. The Plaintiffs were taken to the precinct and detained. The Plaintiffs were never arraigned or prosecuted. The defendant officers, including Defendant Castellano searched the Plaintiffs' apartments and rooms , which damaged and destroyed their property.

Poole, Darin vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 18CV00443, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 11, 2018

Grant, Leroy vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV05005, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, September 2, 2015, ended January 29, 2016
$15,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Defendant Officers stopped and searched Plaintiff's van and then arrested him and took him to the 73rd Precinct. Officer Castellano lied in the criminal complaint resulting in false charges that were eventually ACD'd.

Ellis, Kenneth vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 509455/2015, Supreme Court - Kings, August 4, 2015, ended September 29, 2015
$10,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On February 3, 2015, at approximately 6:00 p.m., Plaintiff was at his job taking care of sorting the garbage and recycling at a building at Newport Street and Junius Street in Brooklyn. Plaintiff worked for the building super. As Plaintiff was working outside, he was approached by NYPD Officer Cassandra James and Officer Rene Castellano. The officers claimed that Plaintiff was removing property from the building and arrested him. Plaintiff was incarcerated for approximately 22 hours before receiving an ACD at arraignment on February 4, 2015. As a result of the arrest, Plaintiff lost two days of wages and chose to find a new job out of fear that this would happen to him again.

Miller, Dwayne vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV01086, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, March 9, 2015, ended March 6, 2016
$5,001 Settlement
Complaint
Description: May 16, 2014 , plaintiff was falsely arrested by defendants while lawfully present in his vehicle at a stoplight. Defendants proceeded to conduct an illegal search without consent or probable cause.

Herrard, Evrard vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV00744, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, February 23, 2015, ended July 23, 2015
$25,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Officer Villalona pulled Plaintiff over and immediately arrested him. He was taken to the 73rd precinct and charged with AC 10-118(B) - "Destruction or Removal of Property in Buildings or Structures"; and AC 10-125(B) - "Consumption of Alcohol in Public". Complaint was sworn by Lantigua. Plaintiff given ACD

Other Documents

Brooklyn DA Disclosure Letter references additional lawsuits 11CV3649, 01086/2015