Donald D. Sadowy

Badge #947, White Male
Detective Grade 2 at Gun Violence Suppression Division Zone 01 since August 2020
Service started July 2008, made $182,000 last year, Tax #947447

Lawsuit Settlements:
$27,500   Mark, Jamal vs City of New York, et al., 2014 EDNY EDNY 14CV06619
$100,000   Crosson, Blayn vs City of New York, et al., 2014 KCSC KCSC 505811/2013
$18,500   Smith, Shariffa vs City of New York, et al., 2014 EDNY EDNY 14CV02935
$65,000   Graves, Dennis vs City of New York, et al., 2014 EDNY EDNY 14CV01603
$25,000   Jones, Shakim vs City of New York, et al., 2013 EDNY EDNY 13CV04233
$39,540   Weber, Michael, et al. vs City of New York, et al., 2013 SDNY SDNY 13CV04874
$50,000   Amari, Mutchar, et al. vs City of New York, et al., 2013 KCSC KCSC 012160/2013
$800,000   Mcintosh, Mesaun vs City of New York, et al., 2012 KCSC KCSC 022999/2012
$50,000   Williams, Princess, et Al vs City of New York, et al., 2012 EDNY EDNY 12CV03947
$20,000   Elliot, Darvell vs City of New York, et al., 2012 EDNY EDNY 12CV04105
$20,000   James v. City of New York et al, EDNY EDNY 12CV00215
View Details

Complaints

8 Complaints
15 Allegations
0 Substantiated
2 Alleged Victim Uncooperative
2 Complainant Unavailable
2 Exonerated
1 Unfounded
8 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #201704372, June 2017
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 25
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201606659, July 2015
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 28
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201311029, November 2013
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 49
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to obtain medical treatment
Complainant: Black Male, 49
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201109627, July 2011
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 16
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #201106074, May 2011
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: Black Female, 24
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201014501, October 2010
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question
Complainant: Black Male, 33
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
Complainant: Black Male, 33
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Male, 33
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Retaliatory summons
Complainant: Black Male, 33
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201011505, August 2010
Allegation: Force: Chokehold
Complainant: Male
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Male
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
additional details

Complaint #200917478, November 2009
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Male
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #201704372, June 2017
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Hispanic Female, 25 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201606659, July 2015
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Hispanic Male, 28 Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #201311029, November 2013
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 49 Unfounded
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to obtain medical treatment Black Male, 49 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201109627, July 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 16 Alleged Victim Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #201106074, May 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Black Female, 24 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201014501, October 2010
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Question Black Male, 33 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Black Male, 33 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Male, 33 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Retaliatory summons Black Male, 33 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201011505, August 2010
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Chokehold Male Complainant Unavailable
Force: Physical force Male Complainant Unavailable
additional details
Complaint #200917478, November 2009
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Male Alleged Victim 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.
'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.

Further details on conclusions.


Lawsuits

Named in 15 known lawsuits, $1,215,540 total settlements.

Clarke, Supreme, et Al vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 534335/2025, Supreme Court - Kings, October 14, 2025

Evans, Orrel vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV04352, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, August 3, 2015, ended March 8, 2017
Zero Disposition
Amended Complaint, Complaint
Description: Plaintiff and his friend were stopped by defendant officers while driving and being searched. Plaintiff and his friend were being accused of having drugs and were handcuffed to the 73rd precinct. Due to the false statement by defendant Officer Sadowy, plaintiff was wrongfully convicted by the grand jury and was not able to make his bail. Plaintiff was then sent to Rikers while waiting for the trial but was kept in the solidary confinement. The case was dismissed later because it was determined that officer Sadowy was given a false statement.

Mark, Jamal vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV06619, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, November 12, 2014, ended June 17, 2015
$27,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On January 13, 2012, at around 4:40 p.m., plaintiff was operating a motor vehicle in a lawful manner in Brooklyn, New York. defendant officers Sandowy and Seto, while on duty in an NYPD van, directed plaintiff to pull over without any legal basis. They searched his vehicle without consent and falsely claimed to have recovered marijuana, leading to plaintiff's arrest and detention. The defendants fabricated evidence, alleging that officer Sandowy observed plaintiff smoking marijuana in his car, which led to the initiation of a criminal prosecution. Plaintiff's case was later dismissed.

Crosson, Blayn vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 505811/2013, Supreme Court - Kings, July 28, 2014, ended July 5, 2019
$100,000 Settlement
Complaint, Summons/Complaint
Description: On July 6, 2012 Plaintiff was unlawfully pulled over by Sgt. Carlos Lewis and POs Donald Sadowy, Gamalier Baez, and potentially John Does 1-10, who asked Plaintiff if they could search the car. Plaintiff declined and POs ordered Plaintiff to exit the car, raise his hands, and stand at the rear of his vehicle. Plaintiff complied and two POs proceeded to illegally search his person and two POs illegally searched his car. After approximately 15 minutes POs released Plaintiff without summons or charges. Approximately 15 minutes later Plaintiff saw the same POs in a different area. Plaintiff lawfully parked his car, approached, and asked them for their badge numbers. One PO responded "1-2-3 fuck you boy" and approxi...

Smith, Shariffa vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV02935, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, May 23, 2014, ended October 1, 2014
$18,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On May 10, 2011, Plaintiff Shariffa Smith was falsely arrested and transported to the 73rd Precinct Stationhouse in Kings County, NYC. Ms. Smith was then arraigned on June 20, 2011, and on or about September 13, 2013, all charges were dismissed. Plaintiff alleges that a notice of claim was served on the Comptroller of the City of New York for Plaintiff's injuries and damages sustained in her unlawful arrest.

Graves, Dennis vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV01603, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, March 17, 2014, ended May 8, 2015
$65,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: At the time of this incident, Plaintiff was driving with his god-son in his back seat and an acquaintance in the passenger seat to a hobby shop when an unnamed officer stopped his car. The officer told Plaintiff that he had pulled him over because the back windows were too tinted. The officer then claimed to have smelled marijuana, and asked Plaintiff if he would consent to search of the car, to which Plaintiff replied no. Plaintiff was ordered out of the car and was search, and nothing was found on him. The officer then found drugs in the acquaintance's underwear. The officer falsely claimed that he found the drugs in the center console and proceeded to arrest both the acquaintance and Plaintiff. Plaintiff was...

Jones, Shakim vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV04233, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, July 29, 2013, ended March 13, 2014
$25,000 Settlement
Complaint, Stipulation
Description: On March 14, 2012, plaintiff was in the vicinity of Boyland Street, Brooklyn, NY, meeting his father. Plaintiff was accosted by defendant officers with their guns drawn and ordered plaintiff to get on the ground. The defendant officers searched plaintiff and despite the fact they found nothing illegal they immediately placed plaintiff under arrest with his arms tightly behind his back and assaulted him. Plaintiff was transported to a nearby precinct and charged with Conspiracy, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. Defendants filled out false and misleading police reports and forwarded them to prosecutors...

Weber, Michael, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV04874, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, July 18, 2013, ended March 6, 2014
$39,540 Settlement
Complaint, Stipulation
Description: On May 29, 2012, Plaintiffs were sitting in cars when Defendant officers Vanpelt and Sadowy approached them, ordered Plaintiffs out of their vehicles, and searched said vehicles. Defendant officers then arrested Plaintiffs for possession of marijuana, even though Plaintiffs did not possess marijuana nor had they committed any other offense. Plaintiffs were transported to a precinct and strip-searched, then transported to central booking. Plaintiff Smith was released without charges. All charges were subsequently dismissed against Plaintiffs Weber and Reed.

Amari, Mutchar, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 012160/2013, Supreme Court - Kings, July 10, 2013, ended January 24, 2017
$50,000 Settlement

Wilson, Sidney L. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 011129/2013, Supreme Court - Kings, June 27, 2013

Mcintosh, Mesaun vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 022999/2012, Supreme Court - Kings, December 10, 2012, ended February 13, 2017
$800,000 Settlement

Williams, Princess, et Al vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 12CV03947, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 5, 2012, ended May 30, 2013
$50,000 Settlement
Complaint, Stipulation

Elliot, Darvell vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 12CV04105, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, August 30, 2012, ended February 4, 2013
$20,000 Settlement
12-cv-04105-RRM-JMA.pdf, Stipulation

Wilson v. City of New York
Case # 011129/2013, Supreme Court - Bronx
Complaint

James v. City of New York et al
Case # 12CV00215, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$20,000 Settlement
Complaint