Incidents

    Incident 197

    Date Nov 13, 2017
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Michael B. Johnson
    Description

    According to testimony and documents in the City of Rochester Disciplinary Records, a woman had been hit by her ex-boyfriend in a car earlier in the day injuring her foot and had gotten home from the hospital when the ex-boyfriend showed up at her door with Officers Johnson and McNees. According to her testimony, she refused to allow her ex-boyfriend into her residence--the officers told her that they were going to allow her ex-boyfriend to break in to the residence, despite being informed several times that the ex-boyfriend did not live there. The officers gave the ex-boyfriend instructions on how to break into the apartment.

    Outcome

    Officer Johnson pled guilty to a violation of RPD rules and regulations and was suspended (unpaid) for one day. The victim received 100,000 in a lawsuit settlement.

    Address Genesee Park Blvd
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 202

    Date Nov 04, 2017
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Jeffrey P. Mcentee
    Description

    While off-duty, MCENTEE allegedly reported his child missing, sparking a massive law enforcement response. MCENTEE had allegedly forgotten he had brought the child home and may have been intoxicated.

    Outcome

    suspended with pay, charges eventually dropped

    Address Sherri Ann Lane
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 153

    Date Sep 18, 2017
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers James F. Ingerick Iii
    Description

    Plaintiff alleges that various Rochester Police Department ("RPD") officers used excessive and unlawful force against him, falsely arrested him, and subsequently fabricated official police paperwork and committed perjury in an attempt to cover-up this wrongdoing

    Address Genessee St
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 78

    Date Sep 18, 2017
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Lucas Burritt
    Description

    In a lawsuit, in which Lucas Burritt was named, someone accused Burrit and other officers of using "excessive and unlawful force against him, falsely arrested him, and subsequently fabricated official police paperwork and committed perjury in an attempt to cover-up this wrongdoing."

    Address Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 3

    Date Sep 09, 2017
    Department University of California Police Department
    Officers Sean Aranas
    Description

    Officer Sean Aranas wrote a citation for and took money from a street vendor selling hot dogs from his cart. Aranas offered no explanation to the vendor.

    Address Berkeley, CA
     

    Incident 81

    Date Jul 31, 2017
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Anthony S. Delvecchio
    Description

    According to Police Accident Report, while heading to assist another officer at a traffic stop, Officer Delvecchio struck a vehicle resulting in damage to their rear tail light and driver's side rear quarter panel.

    Outcome

    Letter of Reprimand

    Address Park Ave near Berkeley St
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 127

    Date Jun 29, 2017
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Scott Ferro
    Description

    While executing a no-knock search warrant at the victim's residence, Investigator Ferro allegedly fired three shots. The victim was reported to be uninjured.

    Outcome

    Ferro was been assigned to administrative duties, pending the results of an internal investigation.

    Address Fernwood Ave near Rustic St
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 254

    Date Jun 07, 2017
    Department Buffalo Police Department
    Officers Ronald (Ronnie) J. Ammerman , Mark P. Andrzejak , Joseph F. Nigro , Curtis L. Hairston , Charles E. Shelvay , Derrick A. Banaszak , Robert P. Sheridan
    Description

    Noah Giusiana attended a late-night film at a Regal Cinema in Buffalo, NY with his younger brother. While exiting the movie theater, Giusiana and his brother were “horsing around” and wrestling outside the theater. Giusiana was confronted by a Regal Cinema assistant manager and a brief altercation ensued.

    Seconds later, Noah Giusiana was grabbed by off-duty Buffalo Police Officer Mark Andrzejak, who was working as a Regal Cinema security officer at the time. Officer Andrzejak then slammed Giusiana to the sidewalk. An eyewitness heard Giusiana’s head crack when it struck the sidewalk and said that he appeared unconscious as he was lying still, facedown on the ground.

    The Buffalo Police department arrived at the scene and placed Giusiana under arrest. The arresting officer at the scene, Ronald J. Ammerman testified that he was never told Giusiana’s head struck the sidewalk. Officer Ammerman’s testimony also revealed that Mark Andrzejak gave false statements regarding Mr. Giusiana’s actions.

    AMR attendants asked Giusiana a series of questions and then cleared him to be taken by the Buffalo Police to Central Booking. A cellblock video shows that Noah Giusiana vomited in a sink and slowly slumped to the floor of his cell in Buffalo Police Central Booking around 6:44 AM on the morning of his arrest. Shortly after 9:00 AM, Mr. Giusiana was found unresponsive, lying on the floor of this holding cell. An ambulance was then called and Giusiana was rushed to Erie County Medical Center, where he underwent emergency brain surgery.

    Noah Giusiana survived after undergoing emergency brain surgery. However, he is nearly 50% blind, has trouble with his memory, and suffers from other cognitive impairments.

    Outcome

    After doctors said Noah Giusiana might not live, police charged Jonah Giusiana on June 8, 2017, with felony assault, “for recklessly causing injury” to his brother. Police arrested Jonah while he was visiting his brother at the hospital. An Erie County grand jury reviewed the case, but did not indict Jonah Giusiana. The violations against both brothers were also dropped.

    The Buffalo Police Internal Affairs unit began an investigation into whether Andrzejak had used unnecessary force and caused Giusiana’s brain injury. Andrzejak was “exonerated” by the police department. Andrzejak remains a police officer.

    Noah Giusiana sued the City of Buffalo, the Buffalo Police Department, seven police officers, Regal Cinemas, off-duty officer Mark Andrzejak, AMR, and two ambulance attendants. Mr. Giusiana’s lawsuit was because the defendants falsely arrested him, negligently caused his injuries, denied him medical care in a timely manner, committed medical malpractice, and failed to train their employees properly.

    The Buffalo Common Council approved the payment to Giusiana for $1.05 Million. The remainder of the $2.9 million settlement came from other defendants.

    Address Elmwood Ave
    Buffalo, NY
     

    Incident 35

    Date May 07, 2017
    Department Buffalo Police Department
    Officers Justin P. Tedesco , Joseph B. Acquino , Jose M. Rivera , Richard N. Hy , Jonathan F. Bierl , Henry Velez , Daniel Derenda
    Description

    CW: Officers beat and fatally shot Jose Hernandez-Rossy during an unlawful, racially-motivated traffic stop.

    Address Buffalo, NY
     

    Incident 28

    Date Apr 18, 2017
    Department Buffalo Police Department
    Officers Christopher P. Fields , Debra A. Strobele
    Description

    CW: Mohammad Ismail bought a dilapidated house at a city auction of tax delinquent properties with the hopes of renovating it and turning it into a home for his wife and four children who were in Brooklyn. The previous owner was a Buffalo police officer who showed up with another police officer one day and threatened to arrest Ismail if he didn't leave. The dispute has led to two internal affairs probes by the BPD and a lawsuit by Ismail against the police officers and the Buffalo Police Department.

    Address Sherman St.
    Buffalo, NY
     

    Incident 178

    Date Apr 01, 2017
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Jonathan P. Laureano
    Description

    According to Davy V., Laureano approached a young black male for looking suspicious as he moved his mother's car to the opposite side of the street

    Address Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 41

    Date Mar 18, 2017
    Department Buffalo Police Department
    Officers Joseph R. Hassett
    Description

    Buffalo Police officer Joseph Hassett was recorded on camera assaulting Timothy Stanton Jr. on March 18, 2017. Stanton was taken to ECMC for a head injury and a cut on his forehead that required stitches. The Erie County District Attorney's Office and the Buffalo Police Department both said they didn't learn about the incident until video of the confrontation was requested by Stanton's attorney. Hassett was charged with two counts of third-degree assault, official misconduct, offering a false instrument for filing and making a punishable false written statement in connection to an incident that happened in March 2017.

    Prosecutors argued this was excessive use of force, but the Judge disagreed, dismissing all criminal charges. BPD Internal Affairs opened an investigation on May 26, 2017 and officially suspended Officer Hassett on May 30, 2017, according to Commissioner Daniel Derenda. Hassett was suspended for 30 days without pay.

    Address Buffalo, NY
     

    Incident 170

    Date Mar 13, 2017
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Christopher W. Kosch
    Description

    According to Yancey v. Pancoe, on March 13th, 2017, Sergeant Timothy Pancoe used racist language in telling Rakim Yancey to move his car, and when Yancey asked why he used that language, Pancoe maced Yancey, beat him with a baton, and kicked him while he was on the ground. Officers Christopher Kosch and Bradley Pike then arrived at the scene and also maced, beat, and choked him, resulting in two fractured wrists and thumbs, a back injury, a chipped tooth, and multiple contusions and abrasions requiring hospital treatment.

    Outcome

    None

    Address Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 232

    Date Feb 07, 2017
    Department Buffalo Police Department
    Officers Todd C. Mcalister , Nicholas J. Parisi
    Description

    Officers Todd C. McAlister and Nicholas J. Parisi tried to handcuff Wardel “Meech” Davis outside a house on the West Side. One of the officers admitted he punched Meech during the struggle, after which the 20-year-old stopped breathing. Meech died a short time later, and even though his death was ruled a homicide, medical records say he died from pre-existing breathing problems that were exacerbated during the struggle.

    The officers were not charged and remain on the force. The attorney general said there was "no evidence" to contradict the officers' accounts because there were no witnesses and no video evidence such as body camera footage or dash camera footage. He added that there was "real need of reform" not only with the police department, but also with the Erie County Medical Examiner’s office, particularly because medical officials insisted on checking with police before making their medical rulings on the death.

    Address Hoyt Street
    Buffalo, NY
     

    Incident 187

    Date Jan 31, 2017
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Thomas J. Lisle
    Description

    Officer Thomas Lisle is allegedly named in Pagan v. The City of Rochester court docket.

    Address Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 203

    Date Nov 29, 2016
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Taurean A. Cumberbatch
    Description

    Two traffic incidents damaging squad car

    Outcome

    Letter of reprimand for first incident and one day suspension for the second

    Address Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 122

    Date Oct 23, 2016
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Michael G. Cotsworth
    Description

    Sargent Cotsworth was one of 2 RPD that conducted internal investigation against Ferrigno . He showed 16 pics . Pic 1 "is he laying face up or face down"? no further questions .

    Address Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 136

    Date Sep 27, 2016
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Peter J. Minurka
    Description

    According to civil lawsuit complaint, RPD Officer Peter Minurka used excessive force while arresting someone. Officer Peter Minurka allegedly punched and kicked the complainant so badly that they were hospitalized The complainant also alleges that the arrest was unjustified and all charges associated with the arrest were dropped in City Court.

    Address Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 194

    Date Sep 19, 2016
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Andrew L. Bostick
    Description

    According to RochesterFirst.com, Officer Bostick tackled Letorya Parker in her front yard, in front of her five year old, after she obeyed his orders to get away from an incident with police and her boyfriend. As she went inside her gate, she was rushed, tackled and pepper sprayed. The incident was recorded by an observer who was then also arrested.

    Outcome

    Assigned extra training

    Address Hollenbeck St near Ave A
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 140

    Date Sep 15, 2016
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Jonathan C. Marsh
    Description

    According to Reuters, Officers warned a civilian to stop yelling and get out of the street. The civilian was turning away from an officer and into a yard when that officer said, “Oh, too late.” He then ran and tackled the civilian to the ground from behind and drove his knee into their back. One officer pepper-sprayed the civilian three times and then sprayed in the direction of her daughter, who was nearby screaming. Later, another officer said to the little girl, “sorry your mom’s an animal.” The civilian suffered injuries to her back and elbow.

    Address Hollenbeck St
    Rochester, NY