Police misconduct is a common issue that puts innocent people behind bars or costs them their lives. Every law enforcement officer is expected to discharge their duties professionally and with respect for the rights of private citizens. They should obey constitutional and statutory limitations on their authority. If they fail to do so, victims of police misconduct can hold them civilly liable. If you are one of these victims, a Las Vegas Civil Rights Attorney can work on your behalf to ensure you get the justice you deserve. Police misconduct can be in the form of intentional or negligent acts or omissions and victims can pursue justice and compensation.
How Law Enforcement Can Violate the Rights of Citizens
The following are common examples of police misconduct:
- Irresponsible use of a firearm. Police should act responsibly every time they employ a firearm such as a gun, taser, or baton. They may need to discharge a firearm to save the life of a civilian or officer. However, using these weapons excessively or irresponsibly is a misconduct that can lead to serious injuries or death.
- Using excessive force. Police officers can be held liable for police misconduct if they improperly or unnecessarily restrain or hold a suspect and others. Excessive force refers to more force than necessary to perform their legal duties.
- Beating suspects. In many instances, police beat suspects out of anger or retribution. In fact, they may do so because they could not control their adrenaline. However, suspects and even criminals don’t deserve to be physically assaulted by law enforcement. And a victim of this police misconduct may pursue a civil claim of misconduct.
- Wrongfully arresting citizens. Wrongful arrest comes in a lot of forms. But, the most common forms include planting evidence on someone’s person or property, forcing a suspect to confess, or just placing an individual under arrest for something the officer knows is not legal.
Pursuing a Police Misconduct Case
Regardless of whether your rights have been violated by a police officer, you need to prove your case in court. Because of the fear or retaliation, you may find this intimidating. But, having an aggressive civil rights attorney on your side who understands the law and knows how to win your case will give you confidence and peace of mind. Your lawyer will prove that the officer intentionally used unconstitutionally excessive force or engaged in other forms of abuse that violates the law to overcome qualified immunity that protects officers from civil liability.