Police Brutality

Broward criminal attorney William Moore knows that most police officers are upstanding individuals who are doing a great service for Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, Broward, and other local south Florida communities. Unfortunately, police brutality is often difficult to document or to prove. This is especially true in light of a federal government study that found that only a relatively small percentage of claims of police brutality or excessive use of force were meritorious. There is also evidence suggesting that only a minority of actual police brutality victims file report the abuse. Victims have complained that claim procedures are daunting and difficult in many jurisdictions.

The video below, showing a South Carolina police officer using force on a Florida woman, has been touted as an example of police brutality:

Although the video does not detail how long the woman waited to pull her car over due to the fears she expressed concerning the remoteness of her location, she apparently received only a traffic citation. The police officer in the video was fired, according to CourtTV, and the woman won a large civil settlement from the police department for her abuse.

Likewise, in aftermath of the events in the following disturbing video, the police officer was fired.

The police officer’s decision to stop the tape does not reflect well on him. The large pool of blood and the woman’s obvious injuries to her face suggest police brutality. In that case, the officer was apparently fired but did not face criminal charges.

Police brutality is typically investigated by local prosecutors or the police department itself, which is problematic because either of those institutions have either an interest in covering for a violent police officer or a pro-police bias. In fact, a review of Chicago-area police brutality allegations determined that the Chicago Police Department took disciplinary action in only 19 of 10,000 cases during a two year period.

Of course, in many instances the use of force by Broward, Fort Lauderdale-Dade, or Fort Lauderdale police officers is justified. Bystanders and people upon whom force is exercised may believe that the force is excessive, although it is appropriate according to police protocol.

If you have been arrested or you are the victim of police brutality in south Florida, contact Broward criminal lawyer William Moore as soon as possible.

Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer William Moore has experience in all kinds of criminal defense. A conviction for a felony or misdemeanor can have consequences on your freedom, your employment, and your personal life. If you have been charged with a crime in Florida, contact William Moore, P.A., which is an experienced Fort Lauderdale criminal law firm with offices in Fort Lauderdale-Dade, Broward, and Fort Lauderdale Counties.

This article should be used for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice nor as implied representation of any person.

Article contributed by Mallory Shipman, Esq.