On the evening of July 27th 2022, a San Rafael Police Officer confronted three men, including a popular Marin County gardener. While one police officer asked if they were under the influence of alcohol, another officer, who is 6 feet tall and 250 pounds, towers over one of the three men and interrogates him while he forces him to the ground over beer bottles, punches him in the nose and pushes his face into the rough pavement. What happened here is sadly, another story of police brutality in California. What can you do if you are ever a victim of police brutality?
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What is Police Brutality?
This term is sometimes used to refer to various human rights violations by police officers. This might include:
- Intimidation
- Threats of Violence
- Racial Profiling and other discriminatory acts
- Illegal search and seizure
- Assault and battery
- Negligent police chases
- Coerced Confession
- Unwarranted use of tasers or firearms
- Denial of medical assistance
- Sexual assault or abuse
- Wrongful Death
When police officers cross the line and use more force than needed, individuals’ rights are being violated, thus police brutality. If police brutality caused you or your loved ones any harm, whether psychologically, physically, or financially, you deserve justice. Our compassionate and dedicated lawyers at Kirakosian Law will be more than happy to help you. Having a California police brutality attorney is very important.
But, why is police brutality considered a human rights issue?
In the worst of cases, unlawful use of force by police officers can result in people being deprived of their right to live. Such is the case of George Floyd, a 46 year-old black man, who was killed on May 25th 2020, by being pinned to the ground for 17 minutes by three police officers. When the first squad car arrived at the scene, Mr. Floyd was already unconscious and showed no signs of life.
Unlawful force by police can also violate the right to be free from discrimination, the right to liberty and security, and the right to equal protection under the law. Having a California police brutality attorney can really help you if you are ever a victim of police abuse.
California Police Brutality: Statistics
Did you know that about 195 people die each year from interactions with California law enforcement? The most common cause of death are gunshot wounds, in fact, nearly 250 people are shot by police each year.
In terms of vehicle and pedestrian stops, these account for about 15 percent of police encounters in which a civilian is seriously injured or killed. But, not only does police brutality end lives or endanger someone’s physical health.
More than four in ten people treated for a non-fatal gunshot wound from a police encounter were diagnosed with a mental health condition, and alcohol – or substance-related disorder, or both. And in about 80% of encounters resulting in death or a gunshot wound, the civilian was armed with a weapon. However, when we also consider civilians who sustained other serious injuries, 56 percent were unarmed.
Sadly, of over the 78,000 law enforcement officers in California, about 80 are arrested each year. Even so, in the last several years, California has already implemented many reforms through state legislation, including requiring local law enforcement agencies to report incidents of serious use of force. Change is on the way.
How Can a Police Brutality Attorney Help You?
“Who is going to believe my word over the word of a police officer? Is there any way to make a fair recovery when it was a police officer who caused my injury?”. These may be some of the questions running through your mind after you’ve been the victim of police brutality.
The truth is that getting a fair recovery in a case that involves police brutality can be difficult. But, why? Well, you must prove that the police officer actually did misbehave in his or her line of duty, and it resulted in your injuries. Because of this, it would be wise to contact a California police brutality attorney that will help you understand the next steps you need to take to protect your legal rights. Police brutality is illegal, and if you or a loved one has sustained injuries after a police officer’s misconduct, there are several steps you can take to pursue your case.
Going after a civil lawsuit against a police officer can offer great advantages for victims of police brutality. One of them is that you get to work with a lawyer who can represent your interests in court. This means that as their client, you get to consult with your attorney on what claims to bring and whether you wish to settle. In a civil suit, you can demand an injunction and/or monetary damages. Well, demanding monetary damages sounds good but what is an injunction and why should you go after it?
An injunction is a Court Order which orders one or more people to stop doing something. The court makes that order following an application made against you by someone who can demonstrate that your actions are, or will be, unlawful. So basically, achieving an injunction can keep police brutality or other forms of misconduct from happening in the future. On the other hand, money damages can be very helpful to victims of police brutality who suffered injuries and have outstanding medical bills or who wish to receive therapy for the psychological trauma that the ordeal caused.
California Police Brutality Attorney
Civil rights protections are one of the bedrocks of our democracy. Our practice is passionate about protecting the American people’s rights to equality regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender or sexual orientation. Our firm at Kirakosian Law represents people who have had their rights and even their dignity stripped from them by police officials, elected officials, large corporations and others.
We also stand up to government entities when there’s evidence of misconduct by our civic leaders and members of law enforcement. We have no problem taking cases to federal court.
Excessive force and police misconduct are a growing concern in our society. Our firm actively pursues cases involving improper conduct, false arrests, unjustified shootings and other abuses of power.
If we can’t reach an appropriate settlement through mediation, we are fully prepared to take civil cases to trial. Mr. Kirakosian in fact was victorious in Los Angeles Federal Court, obtaining a large verdict for a man who sued the Los Angeles Police Department for violating his constitutional rights and for malicious prosecution by an on-duty LAPD detective.
We handle civil rights cases, including:
- Police misconduct
- Malicious prosecution
- Wrongful arrest
If you or someone you know has suffered emotional distress or injury due to a civil rights violation, contact our attorney at Kirakosian Law APC for a free consultation.