Joseph Townsend

Badge #5433, White Male
Former Detective Grade 3 at Organized Crime Investigation Division
Also served at Gang Squad Bronx, Narcotics Borough Manhattan North
Service started July 1996, ended August 2020, Tax #918418

Lawsuit Settlements:
$32,501   Rivera, Angel vs City of New York, et al., 2019 SDNY SDNY 19CV06391
$15,000   Evans, Angele vs City of New York, et al., 2015 NYCSC NYCSC 157864/2015
$15,000   Perry, Bobby vs City of New York, et al., 2015 SDNY SDNY 15CV02833
$20,000   Degaillard, Agnes vs City of New York, et al., 2014 NYCSC NYCSC 154591/2014
$37,500   Rivera, Ismael vs City of New York, et al., 2013 NYCSC NYCSC 158828/2013
$27,500   Smith, Kamoe vs City of New York, et al., 2012 SDNY SDNY 12CV02205
$17,500   Eaddy, Rickey and Brown, Nathan vs City of New York, 2009 BCSC BCSC 302092/2008
$35,000   Mullins v. The City of New York et al, SDNY SDNY 09CV08488
View Details

Complaints

6 Complaints
9 Allegations
0 Substantiated
6 Exonerated
3 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #201303650, April 2013
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: White Male, 46
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: White Male, 46
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201113331, July 2011
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: White Male, 25
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: White Male, 25
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201013922, October 2010
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 20
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #200901718, January 2009
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
Complainant: Male
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200611499, May 2006
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: White Male, 40
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #200101568, March 2001
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 37
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: Black Male, 37
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201303650, April 2013
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search White Male, 46 Exonerated
Discourtesy: Word White Male, 46 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201113331, July 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Word White Male, 25 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Stop White Male, 25 Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #201013922, October 2010
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 20 Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #200901718, January 2009
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Male Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200611499, May 2006
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force White Male, 40 Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #200101568, March 2001
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 37 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Black Male, 37 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 11 known lawsuits, $200,001 total settlements.

Rivera, Angel vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 19CV06391, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, September 17, 2019, ended November 9, 2020
$32,501 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On April 11, 2018, early in the morning around 4:00a.m., Plaintiff and his family were sleeping in their home at 3182 Rochambeau Ave., #4L, Bronx, NY. Between twenty and thirty plainclothes NYPD members surprised Plaintiff by ringing his doorbell and entered his home. One man had markings which indicated he could have been working for or with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Plaintiff was place into handcuffs immediately upon officers entering his apartment. One individual pointed a gun at Plaintiff while other officers began asking for the location of drugs. Plaintiff was taken out to the hallway of his building in only his underwear for around 20 minutes while the members of the NYPD searched and r...

Richardson, Robert vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 162151/2015, Supreme Court - New York, March 21, 2016, ended October 15, 2020
Administrative Closing
Complaint
Description: On November 29, 2012, at approximately 6:00 p.m., ROBERT RICHARDSON (“plaintiff”) was lawfully standing in the vicinity of Hamilton Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue, waiting for his girlfriend to come out of her apartment when police officers unlawfully approached, stopped, seized, and searched plaintiff, without reasonable suspicion, probable cause, or any legal justification. Nevertheless, the defendant's police officers unlawfully handcuffed the plaintiff and arrested him without legal justification or probable cause. The police officer believe the plaintiff possessed any illegal drugs, weapons, or contraband underneath his clothing. The defendant police officers forcibly transported the plaintiff, against his w...

Evans, Angele vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 157864/2015, Supreme Court - New York, August 4, 2015, ended September 29, 2015
$15,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On October 3, 2014, Plaintiff took a photo of and then began videotaping an arrest. One of Defendant Police Officers Joseph Townsend, John Doe #1, and John Does #2-4 threw her phone on the ground, arrested her, and erased the video. Then Plaintiff was incarcerated for over 13 hours. Plaintiff suffered severe emotional distress.

Perry, Bobby vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV02833, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, April 14, 2015, ended September 22, 2015
$15,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Narcotics detectives executed a search warrant where Plaintiff subletted a room due to an informant alleging that Plaintiff's roommates had cocaine. Although nothing was in Plaintiff's room, he was charged with 220.50(2)Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, 220.03 Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, and a 221.05 Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, which were later dismissed on 30.30. Officers also stole $75.00 from Plaintiff's wallet

Degaillard, Agnes vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 154591/2014, Supreme Court - New York, May 13, 2014, ended August 7, 2014
$20,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On November 21, 2013 at approximately 5:30 a.m. Plaintiff was inside an apartment when unnamed POs forcefully broke into the apartment and dragged Plaintiff into a bedroom while demanding she produce identification. Plaintiff produced identification but was handcuffed regardless. Plaintiff begged POs to let her put on clothes but Plaintiff was ignored and instead forced to sit in a motor vehicle for approximately one hour while POs remained in the premises, intentionally damaging and breaking items that belonged to Plaintiff. Thereafter Plaintiff was illegally taken to a police precinct then Central Booking. At no time was Plaintiff given or read her Miranda Rights. Plaintiff was maliciously prosecuted and all ...

Rivera, Ismael vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 158828/2013, Supreme Court - New York, October 1, 2013, ended March 23, 2014
$37,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On October 12, 2012, the Plaintiff was on the street doing nothing illegal, improper, or acting suspicious in any way, when he was approached by Defendant NYPD officers Townsend and Cummings, as well as several other unknown Defendant NYPD officers. The Defendants, without any legal cause or justification, approached Plaintiff and stopped, frisked, grabbed, battered, and detained him in an aggressive and excessive manner. Plaintiff was taken into custody, where he was subjected to a strip search. Plaintiff was arraigned after his arrest and falsely and maliciously prosecuted. All charges against Plaintiff were eventually dismissed.

Smith, Kamoe vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 12CV02205, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, March 27, 2012, ended February 22, 2013
$27,500 Settlement

Eaddy, Rickey and Brown, Nathan vs City of New York
Case # 302092/2008, Supreme Court - Bronx, November 5, 2009, ended June 15, 2018
$17,500 Settlement

Lee, George vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 116224/2008, Supreme Court - New York, December 23, 2008, ended April 12, 2013
Administrative Closing

Mallard v. Townsend et al
Case # 13CV06035, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY
Dismissed with Prejudice
Complaint

Mullins v. The City of New York et al
Case # 09CV08488, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY
$35,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint, Stipulation

Other Documents