Matthew A. Forte

Badge #2891, White Male
Sergeant Detective Squad at Major Case Squad since April 2026
Service started July 2007, made $181,000 last year, Tax #944569

Lawsuit Settlements:
$4,500   Henderson, Mitchell vs City of New York, et al., 2018 SDNY SDNY 18CV02732
$10,000   Santos, Jose vs City of New York, et al., 2016 NYCSC NYCSC 152250/2016
$32,500   Fonseca, Orlando vs City of New York, et al., 2015 NYCSC NYCSC 156423/2015
$20,000   Fernandez, Jose vs City of New York, et al., 2014 SDNY SDNY 14CV05712
$33,000   Torres, Marc Anthony vs City of New York, et al., 2014 SDNY SDNY 14CV00502
View Details

Complaints

5 Complaints
9 Allegations
0 Substantiated
2 Complainant Uncooperative
1 Complaint Withdrawn
3 Exonerated
1 Unfounded
2 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #202309826, October 2023
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint
Complainant: White Male, 25-29
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
additional details

Complaint #201402020, February 2014
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 45
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 45
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 45
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
additional details

Complaint #201107887, March 2011
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Male, 67
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Male, 67
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #201101712, February 2011
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
Complainant: Female, 37
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Female, 37
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #200901204, January 2009
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #202309826, October 2023
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint White Male, 25-29 Complaint Withdrawn
additional details
Complaint #201402020, February 2014
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 45 Unsubstantiated
Force: Physical force Black Male, 45 Exonerated
Force: Physical force Black Male, 45 Unfounded
additional details
Complaint #201107887, March 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Male, 67 Unsubstantiated
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Male, 67 Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #201101712, February 2011
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Female, 37 Complainant Uncooperative
Discourtesy: Word Female, 37 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #200901204, January 2009
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched 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.


Lawsuits

Named in 9 known lawsuits, $100,000 total settlements.

Steinbergin, Troy vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 159315/2021, Supreme Court - New York, October 25, 2021, ended April 12, 2023
Zero Disposition
Complaint
Description: Robert Frank, and Undercover Officers No. 0076 and 0039. The Defendants did such despite the Plaintiff not committing any illegal acts, not being accused of any wrongdoing by any witnesses, no probable cause, or any legal justification. The defendants then unlawfully stopped the Plaintiff by grabbing his body and limbs. They then physically restrained the plaintiff, violently contorted the Plaintiff's arms behind their back, placed the Plaintiff's hands in metal handcuffs, and caused the Plaintiff substantial injuries and pain to the Plaintiff's back, neck, arms, hands, and wrists. Despite Plaintiff telling the Defendants that the handcuffs were too tight and causing pain, the Defendants ignored Plaintiff's req...

Henderson, Mitchell vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 18CV02732, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, May 17, 2018, ended April 3, 2019
$4,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: First Incident: In March 2015, Plaintiff was with a friend who sold drugs to an unknown individual. Officers then arrested Plaintiff as well, he was taken to a local precinct, strip-searched, and charged with a felony, which was later dismissed. Second Incident: In December 2015, Plaintiff was tackled and arrested for drug crimes. Plaintiff was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, when his case was dismissed by a Grand Jury.

Santos, Jose vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 152250/2016, Supreme Court - New York, March 17, 2016, ended November 30, 2017
$10,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On August 15, 2014, Plaintiff was unlawfully detained, searched, arrested, and falsely imprisoned and maliciously prosecuted by Defendants. Plaintiff was doing his laundry across the street from his residence when Plaintiff's friend met him at the rear of Plaintiff's building. Defendant POs approached Plaintiff and his friend and one PO recovered something from a car that was ten to fifteen feet away from Plaintiff. Plaintiff and his friend responded that it was not theirs and after POs searched Plaintiff and his friend, nothing was recovered. Defendant POs then arrested Plaintiff and his friend despite the negative searches. Plaintiff's friend was released while Plaintiff was processed, arraigned, and held f...

Priveterre, Stephen vs Charlson, Sean, et al.
Case # 14CV08841, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, July 15, 2015, ended August 5, 2016
Zero Disposition

Fonseca, Orlando vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 156423/2015, Supreme Court - New York, June 30, 2015, ended November 2, 2016
$32,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On August 15, 2014 Plaintiff was watching his friend's dogs when his friend arrived with a third individual. The group attempted to cross the street but were then surrounded by police cars. Det. Matthew Forte, Under Cover (UC) #39, POs John Does 1-4 falsely arrested the group, including Plaintiff, and accused them of selling drugs. Plaintiff was not involved in any drug sale and did not have any drugs on his person. Plaintiff was wrongfully incarcerated for approximately 7 days before making bail. Plaintiff was maliciously prosecuted and was compelled to attend 5 court appearances until his case was dismissed on January 21, 2015. Plaintiff sustained deprivation of liberty, great emotional injuries, and other da...

Fernandez, Jose vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV05712, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, August 28, 2014, ended December 22, 2014
$20,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On August 3, 2012, plaintiff was walking on the street in Manhattan having just left his aunt's house, when the defendant NYPD officers, including Lt. Anthony Ronda, P.O. Andre Reyes, Det. Carlos Sierra, and Det. Matthew Forte, drew a firearm at him, forced him against a gate, placed him in handcuffs, and falsely arrested him without probable cause or a warrant. They took him to the 25th precinct, where he was subjected to a strip search. The officers fabricated evidence leading to plaintiff's prosecution on false charges. All charges against plaintiff were dismissed on May 15, 2013.

Torres, Marc Anthony vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV00502, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, January 31, 2014, ended August 1, 2014
$33,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Defendant Plainclothes Officers stopped Plaintiff on the street and arrested him, took him to the 25th precinct and strip-searched him, and charged him with 220.39(1) crim sale of a controlled substance in the 3rd degree, which were later dismissed by the DA.

Walker v. Forte et al
Case # 15CV06960, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY
Complaint
Description: Long complaint. No mention of what exactly Officer Forte did.

Smith v. New York City Police Department et al
Case # 06CV15436, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY
Order/Judgment (Verdict)