Here are the 12 reports of police misconduct tracked for Tuesday, August 28, 2012:
- Sorrento, Louisiana: The police department is under investigation for possible criminal activities by one or more of its officers. The allegations include misuse of public vehicles and equipment, and using public gasoline for private vehicles, among other things. bit.ly/Tp7Vkn
- Riverside, California: An officer shot a family’s dog to death. An officer told the family that the dog was shot through a gate because officers needed to get into the backyard two doors away from the suspects house. “His only crime was barking and protecting his property,” said the homeowner. “That’s why you get a dog.” bit.ly/PESYN1
- Bronx, New York: A dirt bike passenger is suing the police for $20 Million dollars. The driver was killed when a police car hit the already crashed bike. The defense attorney called the police version of events an “outright fabrication” and demanded that cops release video surveillance footage of the accident, which he said police have confiscated. “There’s no transparency,” he said. He also called for a grand jury to determine whether the officers’ actions were “criminal in nature.” bit.ly/NZ5Gpa
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: A detention officer faces aggravated assault charges for excessive force against an inmate. “Our system of checks and balances worked, even though the inmate never reported the incident.…This type of behavior by any employee is not and will never be tolerated. This is totally contrary to their training and the professionalism and character we require of our employees,” said the Sheriff. http://bit.ly/PoHtus
- Hobbs, New Mexico: An officer, Roberto Rangel, was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Rangel asked officers, “have you ever heard of professional courtesies?” when they stopped him . They told him Rangel he should not be asking for that kind of favor being a law enforcement officer. “Our response is that driving while intoxicated is not tolerated no matter who you are.” Rangel had a loaded gun and alcohol in the car with him. http://bit.ly/SKwRVO
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin: A union organizer filed a complaint with the County Sheriff’s office against a deputy who she said snatched her cellphone out of her hand while she was videotaping him during a confrontation. http://bit.ly/OrirsX
- Edgefield, South Carolina: A deputy was arrested for driving a golf cart drunk. He was charged with a DUI and operating an uninsured vehicle. bit.ly/PZ2WIs
- Huntington, West Virginia: A man was arrested and charged with obstruction after he was recording police officers. He has filed a federal lawsuit against the city and three police officers, seeking an undisclosed amount of money and a First Amendment policy regarding the rights of citizens during encounters with police. His attorney Courtney Craig says they intend to let the tape speak for itself and let the chips fall where they may with the jury. http://bit.ly/NypSdt
- Carpentersville, Illinois: A man filed a civil lawsuit against the village and its police department, claiming he was battered and racially mistreated during a traffic stop. According to the lawsuit, the man was asked to exit his vehicle by an officer and was then shoved in the chest, punched twice in the face, kneed, and struck in the back of the head. The counts against the officer include civil-rights violations, false arrest and imprisonment, physical abuse, unlawful search and deprivation of liberty, excessive force, civil conspiracy, and assault and battery, among others. http://bit.ly/Nvh7Hf
- Bronx, New York: Police, who had a search warrant, had found a gun in an apartment complex. They then searched a different apartment, on a different floor, and arrested the mother and her son who lived there for criminal possession of a weapon, even though they didn’t find one. Several months after the arrest, the charges were dropped. The mother filed suit for false arrest and imprisonment, negligent training of police officers, property damage, and malicious prosecution. http://bit.ly/OrI7lz
- Los Angeles, California: A banking executive has filed a lawsuit for $50 million against the LAPD. He says he was badly beaten and then illegally detained. bit.ly/SKA0GN
- Charleston, South Caroline: An officer fatally shot and killed the mayor last year. A Charleston attorney has filed suit against the officer on the mayor’s behalf. Records from the state’s Criminal Justice Academy reveals the officer’s character had been in question with several law enforcement agencies with which he had been previously employed. He’s worked for seven agencies in the last 11 years. http://bit.ly/PMaMWw
