New York Police Brutality Lawyer

Police Misconduct Attorney

In a perfect world, our police forces are here to conscientiously protect and serve our communities. Unfortunately, police departments, much like any large institution, sometimes hire people who are poorly suited for the job. In a large city like New York, the sheer number of police encounters means there’s greater opportunity for an interaction to go badly wrong — at no fault of the victim.

The problem of police brutality and excessive force, particularly in large cities, has drawn the notice of the federal government. The U.S. Department of Justice has sanctioned a number of large metropolitan police departments (including Cleveland and Albuquerque) for issues with excessive force. The federal government also found that tens of thousands of excessive force complaints are filed by U.S. citizens on an annual basis.

Because of the latitude the law allows police in their interactions with the public, it’s often difficult to pursue criminal action against an officer. However, if you feel you’ve been the victim of police abuse, a civil action can result in you being awarded financial compensation for your injuries, whether physical or mental.

Pursuing a police abuse claim

Being the victim of excessive force, false arrest, or some other form of police misconduct is often a traumatic experience. Physical injuries, lost time off work, lost wages, time spent falsely imprisoned, reputational harm, disillusionment — all of it can be deeply harmful to a victim. Fortunately, anyone experiencing such a scenario may have legal recourse.

Understanding what is actionable in the realm of police misconduct isn’t an easy task for a layman. Police officers generally enjoy limited immunity from on the job actions, assuming those actions are deemed reasonable. This is designed to minimize the liability that naturally comes with police work.

This immunity is far from absolute, however. Police officers who violate the constitutional rights of citizens — or cause harm by acting unreasonably in the course of duty — do not enjoy these protections. Excessive force, false imprisonment, failure to provide medical care and malicious prosecution are all grounds for legal action. Not every case is clear cut, of course, so understanding the subtleties of this distinction is often a tall order for those without legal training. This is one reason why consulting with an attorney is essential in police misconduct cases.

Choosing the right law firm

Police misconduct cases are often quite complex and require real experience to prove, as the government is a formidable and well-funded opponent. Additionally, police officers enjoy certain legal protections not given to the general public.

Because of this, it’s vitally important to secure representation from a law firm that is experienced in police brutality and other misconduct. By doing so, you provide yourself with the best possible chance of seeing justice done in your name.