We trust our law enforcement officers to keep us safe. We expect them to do their jobs with integrity and honor. While the vast majority of officers do so, there are some who neglect to do their duty. Today, the Los Angeles police misconduct attorneys at JML Law want to discuss a recent abhorrent charge brought against an LA police officer and how it shows a broader range of possible misconduct. Certain behaviors should never be tolerated, but are often covered up.
Why was this LAPD officer arrested
We have learned that a Los Angeles police officer was recently arrested and charged with fondling a dead woman’s breasts. Authorities say that David Rojas, 27, could face up to three years in state prison for the felony charge of sexual contact with human remains without authority.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office says that the officer was caught due to footage from his own body camera. Officials say that Rojas touched the woman’s breasts when responding to a call about her death in October. Rojas was alone in the room with her at the time. Authorities say that he disabled his body camera before touching her, but that the incident was caught by the camera when he turned the device back on. Each body cam worn by LAPD officers has a two-minute buffering period that captures what happens right before police activate them.
Officials discovered the footage during a random inspection of Rojas’ body camera footage. The LAPD is investigating the incident.
Why do police turn their body cameras off
When an officer is on a call, they should not turn their body camera off. The whole point of having these cameras is to protect everybody at the scene of an incident. This includes the officers, victims of crime, and alleged perpetrators of a crime. Even in non-emergency situations, police never know when an emergency may arise.
How many other crimes have been committed and covered up due to an officer turning off their body cam while on the scene?
Officer Rojas may not have understood that there was a two-minute buffering period for his camera, but other officers most certainly do. Police officers should always keep their cameras on while working a scene. Turning them off while a call is ongoing is a sign that something is not right.
Let us help you through your situation
If you or somebody you care about has been the victim of police misconduct, you need to seek assistance from an attorney today. The days of police misconduct victims not having a voice are over. At JML Law, we will thoroughly investigate your allegations and work to secure the compensation you deserve. This can include:
- Pain and suffering damages
- Coverage of any medical bills
- Lost wages if you miss work
- Compensation for counseling
- Possible punitive damages against the officer(s) and department
When you need a Los Angeles police misconduct attorney, you can contact us by clicking here or calling us at 818-610-8800 for a free consultation today.
