On Monday, February 15th 2021, New Rochelle Police Detective Michael Vaccaro was off duty when he witnessed a violent incident between a male and a female. Detective Vaccaro successfully drew the attacker’s attention away from the woman. The man then chased Detective Vaccaro through the streets of New Rochelle with his car and attempted to crash into him several times.  Detective Vaccaro phoned his job twice, called for backup and waited for on duty personnel to arrive.  

The lone Police Officer arrived on scene and Detective Vaccaro went to assist with the arrest and identified himself as a Police Officer to the violent man.  The man began to threaten Detective Vaccaro numerous times with violence and then raised his clenched right fist to punch Detective Vaccaro in his face as Detective Vaccaro used a soft hand tactic to bring his left arm behind his back in order to handcuff him. Detective Vaccaro defended himself with the reasonable amount of force necessary.

Although Detective Vaccaro saved a woman from being attacked and doing the job he was hired to do, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office had Detective Vaccaro arrested for defending himself during an off duty arrest.  Even though Detective Vaccaro was found not guilty and acquitted of attempted assault in the third degree by a New Rochelle Criminal Court Judge, the City of New Rochelle is appallingly seeking his termination.  This is unfair and we believe it is politically motivated.

Detective Vaccaro, a 17.5 year veteran is now in the middle of an ongoing departmental hearing. 

This catastrophic situation has devastated Detective Vaccaro and left him in a significant financial crisis as legal fees continue to mount while we continue to fight in getting Detective Vaccaro’s job back.  Any help from our supporters as we share our fundraiser would be greatly appreciated.