Substantiated Allegations:
Force: Chokehold
Force: Restricted Breathing
Force: Chokehold
Force: Restricted Breathing
Joseph A. Desena
Badge #31330,
White Male
Service
started August 1998, ended August 2025,
Tax #922248
Lawsuit Settlements:
$20,000 Lictenstein, Aaron vs Police Department, Nyc, 2019 EDNY EDNY 19CV00179
$20,000 Rokhlin, Zinoviy vs Desena, Joseph, et al., 2018 KCSC KCSC 513536/2018
$507 Geico General Insurance Company Aso Massry, Abraham, et Al vs City of New York, et al., 2017 CCQ CCQ 009891/2017
View Details
$20,000 Lictenstein, Aaron vs Police Department, Nyc, 2019 EDNY EDNY 19CV00179
$20,000 Rokhlin, Zinoviy vs Desena, Joseph, et al., 2018 KCSC KCSC 513536/2018
$507 Geico General Insurance Company Aso Massry, Abraham, et Al vs City of New York, et al., 2017 CCQ CCQ 009891/2017
View Details
Complaints
13
Complaints
21
Allegations
2
Substantiated
2
Substantiated (Charges)
2
Complainant Unavailable
2
Complainant Uncooperative
4
Complaint Withdrawn
3
Exonerated
1
Unfounded
7
Unsubstantiated
Complaint #202007888,
November 2020
additional details
| Allegation: | Force: Chokehold |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | Black Male, 25-29 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Substantiated (Charges) |
| Allegation: | Force: Restricted Breathing |
| Complainant: | Black Male, 25-29 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Substantiated (Charges) |
| NYPD Conclusion: | APU Dismissed |
| APU Plea Penalty: | Forfeit vacation 10 days |
| APU Case Status: | Closed: Plea set aside, Without discipline, August 18, 2025 |
| Documents: | APU Quarterly Report summary |
| Complaint Closing Report | |
| NYPD Plea Agreement |
Complaint #201805147,
June 2018
additional details
| Allegation: | Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | White Male, 49 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Complainant Uncooperative |
Complaint #201705034,
June 2017
additional details
| Allegation: | Discourtesy: Word |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | Male, 38 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Complainant Uncooperative |
Complaint #201412341,
December 2014
additional details
| Allegation: | Discourtesy: Gesture |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | Male, 30 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Complainant Unavailable |
Complaint #201304752,
May 2013
additional details
| Allegation: | Force: Physical force |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | Male |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Exonerated |
Complaint #201107272,
June 2011
additional details
| Allegation: | Discourtesy: Word |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | White Male, 63 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Unsubstantiated |
| Allegation: | Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number |
| Complainant: | White Male, 63 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Unsubstantiated |
Complaint #200904516,
March 2009
additional details
| Allegation: | Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | White Female, 83 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Unsubstantiated |
Complaint #200609604,
July 2006
additional details
| Allegation: | Offensive Language: Race |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | Black Female, 28 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Unfounded |
Complaint #200513324,
October 2005
additional details
| Allegation: | Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | Black Male, 16 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Exonerated |
| Allegation: | Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) |
| Complainant: | Black Male, 16 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Unsubstantiated |
Complaint #200508441,
July 2005
additional details
| Allegation: | Force: Physical force |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | White Male, 68 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Exonerated |
Complaint #200509193,
July 2005
additional details
| Allegation: | Force: Physical force |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | White Male, 54 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Complaint Withdrawn |
| Allegation: | Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest |
| Complainant: | White Male, 54 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Complaint Withdrawn |
| Allegation: | Offensive Language: Ethnicity |
| Complainant: | White Male, 54 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Complaint Withdrawn |
| Allegation: | Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number |
| Complainant: | White Male, 54 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Complaint Withdrawn |
| Allegation: | Force: Physical force |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Complainant Unavailable |
Complaint #200500231,
January 2005
additional details
| Allegation: | Discourtesy: Word |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | Male, 51 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Unsubstantiated |
| Allegation: | Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest |
| Complainant: | Male, 51 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Unsubstantiated |
Complaint #200307219,
September 2003
additional details
| Allegation: | Discourtesy: Demeanor/tone |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | White Female |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Unsubstantiated |
| Complaint #202007888, November 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Force: Chokehold | Black Male, 25-29 | Substantiated (Charges) |
| Force: Restricted Breathing | Black Male, 25-29 | Substantiated (Charges) |
| NYPD Conclusion: APU Dismissed | ||
| APU Plea Penalty: Forfeit vacation 10 days | ||
| APU Case Status: Closed: Plea set aside, Without discipline, August 18, 2025 | ||
| Documents: | APU Quarterly Report summary | |
| Complaint Closing Report | ||
| NYPD Plea Agreement | ||
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #201805147, June 2018 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest | White Male, 49 | Complainant Uncooperative |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #201705034, June 2017 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Discourtesy: Word | Male, 38 | Complainant Uncooperative |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #201412341, December 2014 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Discourtesy: Gesture | Male, 30 | Complainant Unavailable |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #201304752, May 2013 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Force: Physical force | Male | Exonerated |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #201107272, June 2011 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Discourtesy: Word | White Male, 63 | Unsubstantiated |
| Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number | White Male, 63 | Unsubstantiated |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #200904516, March 2009 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number | White Female, 83 | Unsubstantiated |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #200609604, July 2006 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Offensive Language: Race | Black Female, 28 | Unfounded |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #200513324, October 2005 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop | Black Male, 16 | Exonerated |
| Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) | Black Male, 16 | Unsubstantiated |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #200508441, July 2005 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Force: Physical force | White Male, 68 | Exonerated |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #200509193, July 2005 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Force: Physical force | White Male, 54 | Complaint Withdrawn |
| Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest | White Male, 54 | Complaint Withdrawn |
| Offensive Language: Ethnicity | White Male, 54 | Complaint Withdrawn |
| Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number | White Male, 54 | Complaint Withdrawn |
| Force: Physical force | Complainant Unavailable | |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #200500231, January 2005 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Discourtesy: Word | Male, 51 | Unsubstantiated |
| Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest | Male, 51 | Unsubstantiated |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #200307219, September 2003 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Discourtesy: Demeanor/tone | White Female | Unsubstantiated |
| 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.
'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.
Discipline
Case: 2022-25867
Closed: 2/23/2023
Case Details:
- Failed to activate their body worn camera.
- Failed to make required entries in Department logs.
Recommendation: Other
Lawsuits
Named in 3 known lawsuits, $40,507 total settlements.Lictenstein, Aaron vs Police Department, Nyc
Case # 19CV00179, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, March 6, 2019, ended April 3, 2020
$20,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On January 10, 2018, plaintiff was arrested at his apartment. Plaintiff had been evicted from his apartment that day. On January 5, 2018, a judge had ordered a stay of the warrant of eviction, and on January 9, 2018, plaintiff had obtained and deposited with his attorney the escrow required by the judge. The police disregarded the judge's order when plaintiff presented it to them. The arresting officer was P.O. Tzu Cheung, and the arrest was approved by Sgt. Pawel Maslinski. The other officers present were P.O. Daniel Miller, P.O. Michael Romeo, Sgt. Waly Saif, P.O. Sheldon Maxwell, P.O. Joseph Desena, and P.O. Paul Gallo. Plaintiff was held in jail overnight and missed work. He returned to court three times fo...
Rokhlin, Zinoviy vs Desena, Joseph, et al.
Case # 513536/2018, Supreme Court - Kings, July 5, 2018, ended May 31, 2023
$20,000 Settlement
Geico General Insurance Company Aso Massry, Abraham, et Al vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 009891/2017, Civil Court - Queens, May 15, 2017, ended December 18, 2017
$507 Settlement