Tzu L. Cheung

Badge #2790, Asian Male
Former Police Officer at Quartermaster Section
Also served at Police Service Area 2, 61st Precinct
Service started July 2003, ended November 2023, Tax #932458

Discipline Cases:

Case: 2022-25878
Closed: 5/31/2023
Closed: 8/10/2018
Case: 2015-14039
Closed: 8/20/2015

View Details

Lawsuit Settlements:
$20,000   Lictenstein, Aaron vs Police Department, Nyc, 2019 EDNY EDNY 19CV00179
$20,000   Scott, Maceo vs City of New York, et al., 2012 EDNY EDNY 12CV05301
View Details

Articles

NYPD officer, 44, arrested on Staten Island for alleged domestic incident, SI Live, 5/18/2022

Complaints

11 Complaints
30 Allegations
0 Substantiated
2 Alleged Victim Unavailable
1 Alleged Victim Uncooperative
4 Complainant Unavailable
5 Complainant Uncooperative
3 Exonerated
1 Unfounded
13 Unsubstantiated
1 Victim Unidentified

Complaint #201803384, April 2018
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
Complainant: White Female, 28
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #201607315, August 2016
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Female, 53
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Offensive Language: Race
Complainant: Black Female, 53
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201506237, July 2015
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 25
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #201115213, November 2011
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 20
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Male, 20
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 20
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Black Male, 20
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: Black Male, 20
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Unavailable
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
Complainant: Black Male, 20
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Other
Complainant: Black Male, 20
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #200916939, October 2009
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: Black Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Unavailable
additional details

Complaint #200908287, May 2009
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
Complainant: Black Male, 32
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200905505, April 2009
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 26
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Gun Drawn
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Victim Unidentified
additional details

Complaint #200816202, November 2008
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 42
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Black Male, 42
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
Complainant: Black Male, 42
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
additional details

Complaint #200814149, September 2008
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 20
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Male
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Unavailable
Allegation: Force: Handcuffs too tight
Complainant: Black Male, 20
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 20
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200813212, September 2008
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Female, 42
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #200712006, August 2007
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 21
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201803384, April 2018
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest White Female, 28 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #201607315, August 2016
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Word Black Female, 53 Unsubstantiated
Offensive Language: Race Black Female, 53 Unsubstantiated
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201506237, July 2015
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 25 Alleged Victim Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #201115213, November 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 20 Complainant Unavailable
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Male, 20 Complainant Uncooperative
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 20 Complainant Unavailable
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Black Male, 20 Complainant Unavailable
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Black Male, 20 Complainant Unavailable
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Black Male, 20 Complainant Uncooperative
Abuse of Authority: Other Black Male, 20 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #200916939, October 2009
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 17 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Black Male, 17 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 17 Alleged Victim Unavailable
additional details
Complaint #200908287, May 2009
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Black Male, 32 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200905505, April 2009
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Hispanic Male, 17 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Stop Hispanic Male, 17 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Hispanic Male, 26 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Word Hispanic Male, 17 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Gun Drawn Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Victim Unidentified
additional details
Complaint #200816202, November 2008
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 42 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Black Male, 42 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Black Male, 42 Unfounded
additional details
Complaint #200814149, September 2008
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 20 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Stop Male Alleged Victim Unavailable
Force: Handcuffs too tight Black Male, 20 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 20 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200813212, September 2008
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Word Black Female, 42 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #200712006, August 2007
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Black Male, 21 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.
'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: 2022-25878
Closed: 5/31/2023
Case Details:
  1. Pleaded Guilty: Violation of an order of protection
Penalty: Dismissal probation (12 months), forfeiture of time/leave balances, pre-trial suspension days (34 days), service retirement on completion of 20 years

Closed: 8/10/2018

Case: 2015-14039
Closed: 8/20/2015
Case Details:
  1. Guilty: Inappropriately communicated and visited the residence of a person known to the Department, for non-Department purpose.
Penalty: Vacation days (30 days)


Lawsuits

Named in 3 known lawsuits, $40,000 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...

John, Joel vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV06567, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, November 12, 2014, ended March 31, 2015
Settlement
Complaint
Description: On March 5, 2014, Joel John was pulled over and arrested allegedly for having outstanding warrants by NYPD officer Tzu Cheung and one other in Brooklyn. Plaintiff alleges he was beaten, handcuffed, and thrown into a car before being taken to the 73rd precinct on false charges. Plaintiff alleges false arrest, excessive force, excessive pre-arraignment detention, failure to intervene, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, abuse of process, malicious prosecution.

Scott, Maceo vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 12CV05301, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 24, 2012, ended November 29, 2013
$20,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint