Trotman v. Moltke et al

On March 17, 2023, plaintiff Kevin Trotman filed a civil rights lawsuit in the Eastern District of New York against NYPD Officer Hans Moltke and several unnamed officers. The complaint alleged that on August 5, 2022, the defendants stopped Trotman without probable cause, subjected him to a racially motivated search, and violently beat him, resulting in a broken rib, facial fractures, and severe emotional distress. Trotman asserted claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for excessive force, false arrest, and equal protection violations. Surveillance footage partially captured the incident, contradicting the officers’ report that Trotman had actively resisted. The suit sought compensatory and punitive damages and drew immediate media attention amid heightened scrutiny of the NYPD’s use-of-force policies.

In June 2024, the City of New York agreed to a $350,000 settlement without admitting liability or wrongdoing. Officer Moltke remained on modified assignment pending the outcome of an internal disciplinary review by the NYPD.

Whether Officer Moltke used excessive force against Trotman during an investigatory stop, whether the stop was racially motivated, and whether the city could be held liable for failing to train and supervise its officers properly.

The case intensified calls for police reform in New York, with community groups pointing to it as evidence of systemic racism and excessive force within the NYPD. It was cited in legislative hearings on qualified immunity and contributed to renewed demands for independent oversight of police misconduct investigations.