Every incident in which a police officer injures or kills a civilian in Long Beach, Riverside and other cities of California triggers a national uproar, with many accusing police officers of police misconduct.
Incidents like these have come under increased scrutiny in the media ever since a police officer shot and killed teenager Michael Brown more than three years ago, causing nationwide protests.
Even after a horrendous and high-profile case of police misconduct like this, thousands of innocent people have been killed in police brutality.
Fact #1: there were nearly 4,900 incidents of police misconduct and brutality in 2016, killing nearly 250 people in the U.S.
Fact #2: other estimations show that between 1,100 and 1,400 people get killed by police officers or law enforcement officials annually. Meaning: an estimated every 7 hours, a U.S. citizen loses his/her life at the hands of police.
Police misconduct in Long Beach: How to break through strict laws
This past summer, a police pickup truck ran over two people on the beach of Long Beach, and many thought the incident was not accidental.
The police pickup truck drove into a 48-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman who was lying on a beach blanket at night. The incident took place near Edwards Boulevard and left the man with broken ribs and the woman with a leg injury and broken finger.
The Long Beach police immediately launched an investigation, concluding that the officer attempted to make a 3-point turn when he didn’t notice the two people and ran over them. The truck was moving at 5 mph or less.
A police misconduct attorney at JML Law explains that even though some incidents involving injuries or killing of citizens by police are accidental, there are still plenty of police misconduct incidents in Long Beach and elsewhere in California, which ranges from wrongful convictions, and false arrests to police brutality and shootings.
And the worst part is that strict state laws and investigatory immunity in California prevent many citizens hurt by police officers to hold them liable for their unlawful actions and violations of their liberties.
How do hold police officers accountable for police misconduct
Our Long Beach police misconduct attorney explains that while it’s still extremely challenging to hold a police officer or law enforcement official accountable for his/ her wrongdoing, seeking professional legal representation can help you win a settlement or verdict and obtain compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses.
Fact: police officers are indicted in less than 1 percent of killings of citizens in the U.S. Meanwhile, 90% of U.S. civilians are indicted in a killing.
It also doesn’t make things easier that California has some of the toughest laws in the U.S. prohibiting the release of details about police misconduct. Whether a police officer used excessive force, falsely arrested, or engaged in unlawful searches and seizures, it’s imperative to seek the legal advice of an experienced police misconduct attorney to bring the police officer to justice.
Although some lawmakers and pro-transparency activists in Long Beach and other cities of California are urging the state to loosen up some of the state’s strict protections against disclosing information about officer discipline, Californians are still not allowed to know about officer-involved shootings and internal investigations.
Without legal representation, it’s practically impossible to collect sufficient evidence of police misconduct given the strict laws in California. JML Law has a proven record of helping citizens protect their liberties and rights and hold police officers and law enforcement officials accountable for unlawful wrongdoing.
Get in touch with our Long Beach police misconduct attorney today by calling 818-610-8800 today or sending an email for a free case evaluation.