Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Lying Former Cop Convicted Of False Arrest Only Spends 1 Day In Jail
By
Ben Yakas
Published Feb 16, 2013
Modified Feb 16, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Feb 16, 2013
Modified Feb 16, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The former NYPD officer who was convicted of falsely arresting a Brooklyn man last year was given a slap on the wrist plea deal this week—and it turns out he was given a deal on THAT plea deal as well. Former officer Diego Palacio pleaded guilty to the false arrest on Tuesday in Brooklyn Supreme Court in exchange for his resignation from the NYPD and four days in prison. But he only spent one night in jail—because, according to the Post, state law mandates that inmates are to be released on Friday if their discharge date lands on a weekend. So the man Palacio falsely arrested had to spend three days in jail, and the officer who actually did something illegal only got a day.
Last year, Palacio accused MTA engineer John Hockenjos of trying to run him over with his car after Palacio had responded to an argument between Hockenjos and his neighbor. In his report, Palacio said he was forced "to jump out of the way to avoid being hit by defendant's vehicle." Hockenjos was charged with first-degree felony reckless endangerment, and was facing a maximum sentence of up to seven years. Thankfully, a surveillance camera captured footage of the incident, and clearly showed that Hockenjos slowly pulled into the driveway, while the responding cop calmly stood still.
"In my 20 years of legal experience, I've never seen this crystal clear example of a false arrest," defense attorney Craig Newman said outside court last year. Palacio, an eight year veteran of the NYPD, was facing charges of official misconduct, offering a false instrument for filing, falsifying business records, making an apparently sworn false statement, perjury and making a punishable false written statement before he took the deal.
Tagged
cops
diego palacio
john hockenjos
lies
nypd
police
surveillance
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NJ Transit riders face 5 weeks of schedule disruptions starting Sunday
NJ Transit and Amtrak riders should prepare for cancellations, schedule changes and longer commutes as work continues on the new Portal North Bridge.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 11, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET
For a Democrat in a traditionally red NJ district, how to woo Republican voters
The first-time Democrat says it’s still “a toss-up race” between her and incumbent GOP Rep. Tom Kean.
By
Mike Hayes
News
For a Democrat in a traditionally red NJ district, how to woo Republican voters
The first-time Democrat says it’s still “a toss-up race” between her and incumbent GOP Rep. Tom Kean.
By
Mike Hayes
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Holy civics! NYC schools' own comic books in the spotlight at Comic Con
By
Jessica Gould
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .