Know About Your Legal Options Against Police Misconduct

The police department is supposed to protect people and enforce the law to make the community a safer space. However, a vast majority of people in recent years have come forward against the brutality of law officers. Many incidents even turned into social movements, such as Black Lives Matter. Yet, despite the backlash and human rights campaigns, many people still have to face police misconduct and feel powerless. So, if you believe that your rights have been violated and you have been a victim of police misconduct, consult with our experienced police misconduct attorneys in New York at Cohen & Fitch LLC.

We have been assisting victims of police misconduct and police brutality for almost two decades. We have a long-standing successful track record of helping clients with lawsuits against police misconduct. Our Police misconduct and Brutality Lawyers in Staten Island, NY, will assist you in taking legal action and bring you the justice you deserve.

What are the common forms of police misconduct?

Police misconduct means the offensive or illegal behavior by a police officer towards a person without probable cause in violation of an individual’s lawful rights. It could take many forms, such as the following:

• Abuse of police authority

A police officer needs to have probable cause to arrest someone. However, if the police officer uses unethical methods such as intimidation, threats, hostility, or coercion for a wrongful arrest, it can be considered police misconduct.

• Excessive use of physical force

When a police officer uses brutal force or unnecessary violence towards a person while making the arrest or interrogating someone, resulting in a physical injury, it is considered excessive use of physical force. In that case, you can consult with our Brutality Lawyers in Staten Island, NY, for immediate legal assistance.

• Discriminatory arrest

As per the civil rights act of federal laws, it is illegal to discriminate against someone based on their race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. However, if a police officer makes a wrongful arrest of a person based on these factors without probable cause and malicious intentions, it is known as malicious prosecution.

• Physical or verbal harassment

Police misconduct also constitutes any physical or verbal harassment. It includes unwarranted physical attacks, verbal abuse, threats, offensive language, police brutality, racial profiling, unlawful search, and seizure. In that case, you should consult with our expert lawyers for legal advice.

• Selective enforcement of the law

Police officers should not be arbitrary in their enforcement of the law. However, selective enforcement of the law may occur when the officer chooses at their own discretion which rules to enforce. Thus, it can be considered police misconduct if a police officer enforces the law partially to their advantage to make an arrest.

• Sexual assault

Police sexual misconduct is widely prevalent in many police departments across the country. Some police officers intentionally use their authority to sexually assault or abuse people or attempt to take advantage of them during an arrest. If you have been a victim of sexual assault by a police official, you should discuss your legal options with an experienced police misconduct attorney.

Regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, race, and age, all people are entitled to fair and equal treatment. So, if your rights have been violated due to any of these reasons, we highly recommend consulting with our Police Misconduct and Brutality Attorneys at Cohen & Fitch LLP.

When you have decided to take legal action, schedule a consultation with our experienced lawyers for expert guidance!