Substantiated Allegations:
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint
Discourtesy: Word
Offensive Language: Gender
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint
Discourtesy: Word
Offensive Language: Gender
Ruel R. Stephenson
Assistant Chief at Counterterrorism Division since December 2025
Also served at
Patrol Borough Brooklyn South,
81st Precinct,
28th Precinct,
47th Precinct,
Patrol Borough Manhattan North
Service
started June 1995,
made $279,000 last year,
Tax #916748
Black Male, 56
Lawsuit Settlements:
$85,000 Cruz, Michelle vs City of New York, et al., 2013 NYCSC NYCSC 160064/2013
View Details
$85,000 Cruz, Michelle vs City of New York, et al., 2013 NYCSC NYCSC 160064/2013
View Details
Articles
Top NYPD chief held 'best dressed' contest targeting female cops at holiday party: lawsuit, New York Daily News, 2/7/2025$12 million Ponzi scheme linked to NYPD corruption probe , New York Post, 4/8/2016
Complaints
8
Complaints
18
Allegations
3
Substantiated
1
Substantiated (Command Discipline)
1
Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
1
Substantiated (Formalized Training)
2
Complainant Uncooperative
1
Exonerated
3
Unable to Determine
2
Unsubstantiated
7
Within NYPD Guidelines
Complaint #202408109,
August 2024
additional details
| Allegation: | Force: Physical force |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | Black Female, 60-64 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Within NYPD Guidelines |
| Allegation: | Force: Physical force |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Within NYPD Guidelines |
| Documents: | Complaint Closing Report |
Complaint #202401186,
February 2024
additional details
| Allegation: | Discourtesy: Action |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | Middle Eastern/North African Female, 21-24 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Within NYPD Guidelines |
| Allegation: | Force: Physical force |
| Complainant: | Hispanic Female, 25-29 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Within NYPD Guidelines |
| Allegation: | Discourtesy: Word |
| Complainant: | Hispanic Female, 25-29 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Substantiated (Formalized Training) |
| Allegation: | Force: Physical force |
| Complainant: | Hispanic Female, 25-29 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Within NYPD Guidelines |
| Allegation: | Offensive Language: Gender |
| Complainant: | Hispanic Female, 25-29 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Substantiated (Command Discipline A) |
| Allegation: | Force: Physical force |
| Complainant: | Age 25-29 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Unable to Determine |
| Allegation: | Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest |
| Complainant: | Hispanic Female, 25-29 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Within NYPD Guidelines |
| Allegation: | Abuse of Authority: Improper use of body-worn camera |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Unable to Determine |
| Allegation: | Discourtesy: Word |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Within NYPD Guidelines |
| Penalty: | Command Discipline - A |
Complaint #202308793,
September 2023
additional details
| Allegation: | Force: Physical force |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | White Male, 35-39 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Complainant Uncooperative |
Complaint #202309009,
September 2023
additional details
| Allegation: | Force: Physical force |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | Age 15-17 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Unable to Determine |
Complaint #201500117,
January 2015
additional details
| Allegation: | Force: Physical force |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | Black Male, 20 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Exonerated |
| Documents: | Complaint Closing Report |
Complaint #200105862,
July 2001
additional details
| Allegation: | Discourtesy: Demeanor/tone |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | Female |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Complainant Uncooperative |
| Documents: | Complaint Closing Report |
Complaint #200101696,
January 2001
additional details
| Allegation: | Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint |
|---|---|
| Complainant: | Black Male, 46 |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Substantiated (Command Discipline) |
| NYPD Conclusion: | Plead Guilty - DCT |
| Penalty: | Command Discipline - A |
| Documents: | Complaint Closing Report |
Complaint #9802869,
June 1998
additional details
| Allegation: | Force: Push/Shove |
|---|---|
| CCRB Conclusion: | Unsubstantiated |
| Allegation: | Force: Other - Force |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Unsubstantiated |
| Documents: | Complaint Closing Report |
| Complaint #202408109, August 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Force: Physical force | Black Female, 60-64 | Within NYPD Guidelines |
| Force: Physical force | Within NYPD Guidelines | |
| Documents: | Complaint Closing Report | |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #202401186, February 2024 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Discourtesy: Action | Middle Eastern/North African Female, 21-24 | Within NYPD Guidelines |
| Force: Physical force | Hispanic Female, 25-29 | Within NYPD Guidelines |
| Discourtesy: Word | Hispanic Female, 25-29 | Substantiated (Formalized Training) |
| Force: Physical force | Hispanic Female, 25-29 | Within NYPD Guidelines |
| Offensive Language: Gender | Hispanic Female, 25-29 | Substantiated (Command Discipline A) |
| Force: Physical force | Age 25-29 | Unable to Determine |
| Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest | Hispanic Female, 25-29 | Within NYPD Guidelines |
| Abuse of Authority: Improper use of body-worn camera | Unable to Determine | |
| Discourtesy: Word | Within NYPD Guidelines | |
| Penalty: Command Discipline - A | ||
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #202308793, September 2023 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Force: Physical force | White Male, 35-39 | Complainant Uncooperative |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #202309009, September 2023 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Force: Physical force | Age 15-17 | Unable to Determine |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #201500117, January 2015 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Force: Physical force | Black Male, 20 | Exonerated |
| Documents: | Complaint Closing Report | |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #200105862, July 2001 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Discourtesy: Demeanor/tone | Female | Complainant Uncooperative |
| Documents: | Complaint Closing Report | |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #200101696, January 2001 | ||
| Allegation | Complainant | CCRB Conclusion |
| Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint | Black Male, 46 | Substantiated (Command Discipline) |
| NYPD Conclusion: Plead Guilty - DCT | ||
| Penalty: Command Discipline - A | ||
| Documents: | Complaint Closing Report | |
| additional details | ||
| Complaint #9802869, June 1998 | ||
| Allegation | CCRB Conclusion | |
| Force: Push/Shove | Unsubstantiated | |
| Force: Other - Force | Unsubstantiated | |
| Documents: | Complaint Closing Report | |
| 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.
'Unable to Determine': The alleged conduct was investigated but could not determine both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules.
'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.
'Within NYPD Guidelines': The conduct occurred but did not violate the NYPD's own rules, which often give officers significant discretion.
Further details on conclusions.
Lawsuits
Named in 3 known lawsuits, $85,000 total settlements.Council On American-Islamic Relations, Nyc et Al vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 25CV01936, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, March 13, 2025
Pennyfeather, Xaviera vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 303157/2015, Supreme Court - Bronx, July 24, 2015
Cruz, Michelle vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 160064/2013, Supreme Court - New York, November 6, 2013, ended May 14, 2019
$85,000 Settlement