The Legal Aid Society on Monday released a new analysis of city data showing New Yorkers continue to shoulder the burden of police misconduct lawsuits. Between January 1 and June 30, 2025, the city paid out more than $77 million in settlements related to misconduct claims.
If this pace continues, total payouts could surpass $154 million by year’s end, according to the nonprofit organization.
“Year after year, New Yorkers are stuck picking up the tab for alleged police misconduct — and the first six months of 2025 are no different,” Jennvine Wong, Supervising Attorney with the Cop Accountability Project at The Legal Aid Society, said in a statement.
Police Misconduct Lawsuit Payouts, 2018–2025 (Mid-Year)
|
Disposal Year |
Number of Lawsuits Disposed |
Total Payout |
Mean Payout |
Median Payout |
|
2018 |
1,576 |
$76,492,741.72 |
$48,536.00 |
$10,650.50 |
|
2019 |
1,280 |
$71,898,242.62 |
$56,170.50 |
$17,500.00 |
|
2020 |
931 |
$62,111,491.67 |
$66,714.81 |
$20,000.00 |
|
2021 |
762 |
$88,203,727.13 |
$115,752.92 |
$20,000.00 |
|
2022 |
975 |
$135,379,617.10 |
$138,850.89 |
$22,002.00 |
|
2023 |
826 |
$116,282,779.64 |
$140,778.18 |
$25,000.00 |
|
2024 |
973 |
$206,329,754.53 |
$212,055.25 |
$20,000.00 |
|
2025 (Jan–Jun) |
592 |
$77,367,582.40 |
$130,688.48 |
$22,500.00 |
The payouts come as the NYPD is also set to blow past its overtime budget. According to the city’s Independent Budget Office, the department is on track to exceed its FY25 overtime allotment by $840 million. In FY24 alone, NYPD overtime costs climbed to nearly $1.1 billion, up $141 million from the previous year.
Recent settlements underscore the scale of misconduct allegations.
In Kenneth Bacote v. City of New York, Bacote was allegedly assaulted by NYPD officers in Brooklyn on June 2, 2020. Court filings say officers used a taser on his left eye, causing permanent blindness, before beating, shackling and arresting him without probable cause. In April 2025, the city paid $5.75 million to settle the case. Records show the officers named have faced multiple complaints and lawsuits in the past.
Another example includes Courtney Merchant, who was arrested in Queens on July 6, 2023 and was indicted on weapons charges after officers allegedly fabricated evidence and withheld key information. The charges were later dismissed, and she spent months in custody before her release. The case settled in March 2025 for $480,000. Public records show one of the officers involved has multiple substantiated complaints and was recently promoted despite prior misconduct findings.
“Many of the officers involved in these cases have been sued numerous times for alleged misconduct — some have even been promoted," Wong said. "In virtually no other profession would racking up lawsuits that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars be tolerated. This ‘no rules, no consequences’ culture only perpetuates the NYPD’s impunity and helps explain why many communities distrust a Department that claims to ‘protect and serve."
