NEW ROCHELLE, NY (August 4, 2025) — The New York State Attorney General’s Office has concluded that New Rochelle Police Officer Lane Schlesinger engaged in a pattern of misconduct involving abuse of authority, according to a May 24, 2024, report released by the Office of the Attorney General.
The report, addressed to then-New Rochelle Police Commissioner Robert Gazzola, details findings from a review of Schlesinger’s conduct in several incidents, both on and off duty. The investigation was prompted by a January 26, 2022, referral from the New Rochelle Police Department (NRPD) under Executive Law §75(5)(b).
Since joining the NRPD as a full-time officer on July 31, 2006, Schlesinger has faced discipline for 25 complaints of misconduct and minor infractions since January 2008. He was assigned to desk duty with limited public interaction before he retired on July 20, 2024 with a Pension Benefit of $90,653.
In one incident on January 21, 2021, Schlesinger conducted a traffic stop on an African American female, referred to as Complainant #1, who was driving a van. She alleged she was “randomly pulled over by two officers for no reason” and claimed racial profiling. Schlesinger stated he stopped her because he believed the van was being used for commercial purposes, as it had 12 to 15 seats. The report found that Schlesinger lacked reasonable suspicion for the stop, violating NRPD policy and New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law. The NRPD investigation did not sustain allegations of racial profiling but verbally counseled Schlesinger.
On August 30, 2021, Schlesinger, while off duty, entered the restricted Emergency Department at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset to visit his mother, despite suspended visiting hours due to COVID-19 protocols. Hospital security reported that Schlesinger showed his police badge and said, “lay hands on me,” to a security officer attempting to stop him. He was later banned from the hospital. The NRPD found multiple policy violations, including failure to notify his Division Commander and acting in a manner that did not reflect favorably on the department. Schlesinger received a letter of counseling.
On December 3, 2021, Schlesinger refused to sign a letter of counsel related to a meal period violation, turning on his body-worn camera to record a conversation with his sergeant, which violated NRPD policy. The sergeant described Schlesinger’s conduct as “wholly inappropriate,” “rude, disrespectful, and borderline insubordinate.” An internal investigation sustained allegations of insubordination and improper camera use, resulting in the loss of five leave days.
In a January 5, 2022, incident, Schlesinger issued a summons to Complainant #4 for leaving the scene of an accident. The complainant reported Schlesinger’s “discourteous conduct,” including telling him to “stop calling me ‘brother’” and remarking, “try not to hit anymore cars today.” The NRPD investigation found Schlesinger’s behavior “dismissive, condescending, disrespectful,” violating department rules. He lost two leave days for this and other minor infractions.
The Attorney General’s Office concluded that Schlesinger engaged in a pattern of abuse of authority, citing the unlawful traffic stop, misuse of his badge at the hospital, improper use of his body-worn camera, and unprofessional conduct with Complainant #4.
The report suggested NRPD policy changes, including limiting the use of command discipline for repeat offenders, defining “minor infraction” and “repeated conduct,” developing a disciplinary matrix, standardizing supervisors’ reporting requirements, and updating the traffic enforcement policy to require probable cause for stops, as mandated by the New York Court of Appeals in People v. Hinshaw (2020).
The report recommended that NRPD continue limiting Schlesinger’s public interactions and closely monitor his conduct but at the time the report was issued Schlesinger had already been retired for month than 10 months.
The NRPD has 90 days to inform the Attorney General’s Office of its response to the recommendations.
Executive Law 75(5)(b) Referral of Police Officer Lane Schlesinger OAG Matter No. 1-793542917
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
