Out-of-court settlement reached in New Rochelle excessive force lawsuit

An out-of-court settlement has been reached in a federal lawsuit against the City of New Rochelle, its police department, and several officers.

Officer Michael Vaccaro was accused of using excessive force during an arrest in February 2021. Cellphone footage of the incident was released by the Westchester District Attorney's Office.

Vaccaro was off duty at the time of the altercation and was subsequently charged with attempted assault. However, he was acquitted of the charges. Despite the acquittal, he was later terminated from the police department.

Following his termination, Vaccaro filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court seeking reinstatement.

The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, and the city has refrained from commenting on the matter.