A New York City police officer has reached a $175,000 settlement with the city in a lawsuit that shed light on the use of “Courtesy Cards” Officers are distributing money to friends and relatives to avoid traffic stops and other minor infractions, according to an agreement filed in Manhattan federal court Monday.
The deal brings to an end a lawsuit filed last year by Officer Matthew Bianchi, who claimed he was punished by his superiors for failing to honor the cards, though the settlement itself does not make any substantive changes to how the cards are used by NYPD officers.
The laminated cards, which typically bear an image of the NYPD badge and the name of one of the city’s police unions, are not officially recognized by the police department but have long been treated as a job perk.
The city’s police unions issue these cards to their members, who distribute them to those who want to indicate their contact with the NYPD — often to avoid minor violations like speeding or not wearing a seat belt.
Bianchi said his views on courtesy cards have not changed. The 40-year-old Staten Island officer said there should be more oversight of the number of cards distributed to officers and better protections for those who speak out against their misuse.
“It’s a form of corruption,” he said in a phone interview on Tuesday. “My approach to dealing with these matters will not change, even if a president tries to punish me. I will stand my ground and do exactly what I feel is right.”
Bianchi’s attorney, John Scola, said he hopes the officer’s efforts will inspire others in the department to come forward as whistleblowers.
“Officer Bianchi showed remarkable courage by standing up to the NYPD and doing the right thing despite significant risk to his career,” he said.
Mayor Eric Adams’ administration confirmed the terms of the settlement but declined to comment further.
“Resolving this case was in the best interests of all parties,” Nicholas Paolucci, a spokesman for the law department, wrote in an email Tuesday.
In his lawsuit filed last year, Bianchi alleged that current and retired officers had access to hundreds of cards, giving them away in exchange for a discount on a meal or a home improvement job.
He also claimed that he was reprimanded on numerous occasions for issuing tickets to friends and family of officers, even after they had presented a courtesy card.
The final straw came when he ticketed a driver who turned out to be a friend of the NYPD’s top official, NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey, in the summer of 2022. Bianchi said he was immediately fired from his job in the department’s traffic unit and demoted to night patrol duties.
The police department declined to comment, referring questions to the law department.
The Police Benevolent Association, New York’s largest police union, did not respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday. The city’s police unions have long faced Auditing On the cards due to the emergence of corruption and their emergence For sale on eBay.
Bianchi said Tuesday he has since moved to a day shift, but his efforts to advance his career have been limited by the lawsuit.
“I have applied for almost everything since I was brought back to work, but they have denied me everything,” he said. “They don’t hide the reason behind it, and my supervisors have told me why I can’t go anywhere.”
But the nine-year veteran of the force said he doesn’t regret filing the lawsuit.
“I’m glad I didn’t have to suffer punishment and retaliation while lying on the ground. I’m glad I did something,” he said.