FORMER CITY PARKS SUPERVISOR ENTERS GUILTY PLEA TO HARASSING A SUBORDINATE AT BRONX PARK

 

Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced a former Supervisor at the City Department of Parks and Recreation (“DPR”) pled guilty to threatening and harassing conduct toward a subordinate, which occurred inside a maintenance closet at a park located on East 156th Street in the Bronx between July and August 2021. DOI’s investigation was prompted by allegations reported by DPR. The office of Bronx County District Attorney Darcel Clark is prosecuting the case. 

FRANCISCO BRACERO, 64, of New York, N.Y., who is also known as “Cisco,” was charged in July 2023 with Forcible Touching, a class A misdemeanor; Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, a class B misdemeanor; and Harassment in the Second Degree, a violation. BRACERO entered a guilty plea to Harassment in the Second Degree, a violation, and was sentenced to a conditional discharge. An order of protection for the victim was imposed.

DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “The City should have zero tolerance for any City employee who victimizes another with threatening and harassing behavior, as this defendant did. Today, this now former City employee faces the consequences of his misconduct. I thank the complainant for reporting this unacceptable conduct to the Parks Department, the Parks Department for informing DOI of that report, and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for their continued partnership on these important prosecutions.” 

According to the criminal complaint, between July 15, 2021 and August 2, 2021, inside of 720 East 156th Street, in the Bronx, BRACERO grabbed the buttocks of a female subordinate with his hand, without her consent, and stated that he wanted to grab her breast. This conduct caused her alarm and fear for her physical safety, according to the complaint.

BRACERO began working for DPR in July 2002 and was an active DPR Supervisor at the time of the alleged conduct. When he retired in September 2022, BRACERO was receiving an annual salary of approximately $80,262.