Civilian Complaint Review Board311Search all NYC.gov websites
Data Transparency Initiative
Complaints
The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) is an independent municipal agency that investigates complaints of NYPD misconduct. A “complaint” is defined as any incident within the Agency’s jurisdiction that falls into one or more of the following categories of misconduct specified by the New York City Charter: Force, Abuse of Authority, Discourtesy, and Offensive Language, collectively known as “FADO”. Upon receiving a complaint, CCRB investigators gather evidence and interview witnesses to prepare reports on the allegations of misconduct. Once an investigation is concluded, a closing report is prepared detailing the evidence and a legal analysis, and the case is turned over to the CCRB Board for review and vote. The data in this section presents an in-depth analysis of complaints the CCRB received from 2006 through 2015 (into 2016 as available) and includes details of the complaint (date, location, borough, precinct).
The Data Transparency Initiative only shows data within CCRB jurisdiction.
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Complaints Received
Complaints by FADO
Complaints by Borough
Complaints by Precinct
Complaint Mode
Complaint Place
Complaint Location
Complaint Time of Day
Complaint Reason
Outcome Associated with Complaint
Complaint with SQF Allegation
Complaints with Video
Fully Investigated Complaints
Mediated Complaints
FADO Type of Mediated Complaints
Complaints Truncated
How many complaints has the CCRB received over time?
Between 2006 and 2016, the number of complaints received by the CCRB has steadily declined, from 7,663 in 2006 to 4,282 in 2016.
How many CCRB complaints contain at least one allegation of excessive force, abuse of authority, discourtesy or offensive language (FADO)?
A single complaint can include more than one allegation. Complaints that include an abuse of authority allegation are most numerous. From 2006 through 2016, the CCRB received over 43,000 complaints with at least one abuse of authority allegation.
How many complaints does the CCRB receive by borough of incident?
The CCRB has consistently received the highest number of complaints from Brooklyn from 2006 through 2016. Complaints originating in Brooklyn account for approximately a third of all alleged incidents each year.
Note: 1) This data only includes reported incidents that occurred within the five boroughs by a NYPD officer. 2) See NYC Planning, Current & Projected Populations for the population size of each borough.
How many complaints does the CCRB receive by precinct of incident?
Precinct 75 has consistently had the highest number of reported CCRB complaints in NYC over time, followed by the 73rd and 44th precincts.
Note: Hover over a precinct for the number of complaints. Data is not available to download due to individual level information.
How are complaints made to the CCRB by the public?
The phone is the most common method to report an incident of alleged police misconduct, comprising around two-thirds of complaints the CCRB receives directly each year. The percentage of complaints made online has steadily grown from 4% in 2006 to 13% in 2016.
Note: 1) The increase in the number of complaints by phone in 2013 is due to the impact of Hurricane Sandy. From November 2012 through January 2013, CCRB offices were either closed or operating with minimal capacity, during which time complaint intake shifted to the Internal Affairs Bureau where the primary method to file a complaint is by phone. 2) Call Center refers to the CCRB Call Processing Center, which is an automated telephone service that receives complaints outside business hours.
Where do people make complaints of alleged police misconduct?
The CCRB is not the only entity that receives complaints about alleged police misconduct. Complaints made directly to the CCRB account for over half of complaints filed each year. The Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) is the second most common location to file a complaint.
Note: 1) Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB); Commission to Combat Police Corruption (CCPC); Inspector General NYPD (IG NYPD); Department of Investigation (DOI). 2) In 2013, IAB offices remained open in the wake of Hurricane Sandy resulting in 50% of complaints within CCRB jurisdiction that year. This was a 10% increase from 2012.
Where do alleged incidents occur?
From 2006 through 2016, incidents that occurred on the street or highway have consistently accounted for approximately half of the complaints CCRB received. However, alleged misconduct from the street or highway has declined from its peak in 2008 at over 60% to just under half of complaints in 2016, the lowest percentage recorded in the past nine years.
Note: Apartment/house refers to alleged misconduct that has crossed the threshold of the door and inside a residential dwelling. Residential building refers to alleged misconduct in the hallway or lobby. Public space/building refers to alleged misconduct on government property.
What day of the week and time of day do alleged incidents occur?
From 2006 through 2016, late Friday night and just past midnight Saturday and Sunday morning were the most frequent days and times for an alleged incident of misconduct to occur.
Note: The table is in a 24 hour time format.
How have reasons for contact changed over time?
“Suspicion of a crime” is the most cited explanation for initial contact with a victim or alleged victim, with 30% to 43% of complaints each year.
Note: 1) Police Department (PD); Precinct (PCT); Complainant/Victim (C/V); Emotionally Disturbed Person (EDP). 2) Reason for contact is most often provided by the NYPD officer, when corroborated with documentary evidence.
How often do reported incidents of alleged police misconduct result in an arrest or summons?
In reported incidents of police misconduct, police interaction concludes with three main types of action: (1) an arrest is made, (2) a summons is issued or (3) neither an arrest nor summons occurs. No arrest or summons has been the most common outcome over time.
Note: 1) An arrest can occur any time an individual is charged with a felony, misdemeanor or another type of violation. 2) A summons can be issued for a violation or crime, including but not limited to a parking summons, moving violation, disorderly conduct, or another violation.
How has the number of complaints that include an allegation of stop, question, frisk, or search of a person (SQF) changed over time?
Looking at data from 2006 through 2016, complaints that have at least one allegation of SQF peaked in 2007 at 34% and declined to 21% in 2016.
How many complaints has the CCRB received that contain video?
The number of complaints that contain video has increased since 2012. In 2016, 18% of cases closed contained video.