In every major city in the world there are thousands of police officers, dedicated to bringing justice to the victims of crimes. New York City is no different in that most police officers are men and women there to do the job they set out to do. Unfortunately, there are some police officers who abuse their power and position of authority to take advantage of the citizens they are charged with serving and protecting. When a police officer goes outside of the law and betrays the public trust, there is often little that anyone can do about it. The police have a saying about “The Thin Blue Line” which dictates that all police officers should look out for one another no matter what they do wrong.
Overzealous and violent actions by police officers are all too common throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Ross & Hill has observed a notable increase in inquiries to our firm about potential false arrest and police brutality lawsuits in recent years and we take every call seriously.
When a police officer has been accused of misconduct by a citizen there is often little recourse or path that the citizen can take. They can file a complaint with the police department, but even with community review boards and political oversight, police officers are given a lot of leeway to act as they see fit. When the systems in place cannot bring justice for an individual that has been wronged by the police fails, that is where Ross & Hill comes in to make things right.
There are many types of police misconduct cases including:
• Police brutality, including improper searches and use of excessive force
• False arrest, wrongful conviction, false or improper imprisonment
• Enforced forfeiture of your property when you are not charged with a criminal violation
• Harassment or aggressive and excessive interrogations by police officers leading to or following arrest
• Denial or limitation of your right to legal representation
• Impairment of due process in criminal proceedings
• Invasion of privacy, including forced entry into your home by law enforcement officials
Some examples of police brutality and excessive force include:
• unnecessary and excessively tight handcuffing
• Use of an elctrice tazer when unnecessary
• choke holds
• unprovoked shootings
If you believe you or a loved one has been a victim of police brutality or misconduct, call Ross & Hill now.
If you are the victim of police misconduct it can be a life changing event and it is hard to know what to do since the police have positions of authority and trust in the community. Most people who feel they are victims may not be aware of what constitutes police brutality or police misconduct in the first place. Many individuals who are victims may think that police officers have carte blanche to enforce their authority any way they want to. This however is not the case and there are steps you can take to bring corrupt law enforcement officers to justice and in some cases recoup financial compensation for your ordeal. You will need a seasoned police misconduct attorney like those at Ross & Hill to help you prosecute your claim against the police department and the city. These are some steps you can take after you call Ross & Hill.
In New York City, there is the Civilian Complaint Review Board where you can report police misconduct. While this is a invaluable public service, it is important to note that the Boards mandate is to only investigate police misconduct, they do not have the power to punish police officers in any way. The Board’s investigative staff is composed entirely of civilian employees and conducts investigations in an impartial fashion. This review board is an independent agency that is empowered to receive, investigate, prosecute, mediate, hear, make findings, and recommend action upon complaints filed against members of the New York City Police Department.
The Review Board Investigates Four Types of Police Complaints:
• Complaints of unnecessary or excessive use of force, including chokeholds, tasering, pepper spray, and any type of deadly force.
• Abuse of authority, which is using the power of the office to intimidate or otherwise mistreat a civilian. This encompasses unlawful search and seizure, improper questioning or frisking without cause, improper strip searches, vehicle stops without probable cause, and more.
• Discourtesy
• Using obscene or offensive language
It is important to repeat that while the Civilian Review Board does investigate claims of police misconduct, THEY DO NOT DISCIPLINE OFFICERS IN ANY WAY. When the Board substantiates a complaint, they refer the case, with a disciplinary recommendation, to the police commissioner. Only the police commissioner has the authority to decide the level of discipline and impose punishment on an officer.
If you want justice and compensation for yourself after you are the victim of police misconduct, you must contact veteran and experienced police misconduct attorneys like the attorneys at Ross & Hill. Our police misconduct attorneys for New York City have been defending citizens’ civil rights and fighting against the abuse of authority for more than 40 years. We know when alleged police misconduct is worth investigating and what it takes to build a winning case for settlement or trial. In some cases, we have earned recoveries in hundreds of thousands for our clients. When you call our offices, conveniently located in Brooklyn and Manhattan, the attorney you speak with can advise you on the best steps to take next. All conversations are confidential and you should call right now.
It takes courage to report police misconduct. At Ross & Hill, we want to reward your trust in us if you have a viable case. We take every inquiry seriously and can tell you if you have a case against the city for your pain and suffering.
When we take your case, our actions on your behalf may include:
• We conduct our own investigation to pinpoint the identities and expose the work histories of those who wrongfully arrested you, injured you or otherwise violated your civil rights
• Gathering evidence and testimony to support your claims
• Valuing your case in view of all damages that may be recoverable, including money for emotional distress as well as physical and financial harm
If you or a family member has been the victim of police brutality then you should call the law offices of Ross & Hill now for a free consultation. We will listen to your story and let you know if you have a case. Call Now.
Police brutality cases have been well-documented in New York City for some decades. Consider the brutal 1999 killing of Amadou Diallo at the hands of four police officers who were a part of NYC’s controversial Street Crimes Unit or the unimaginable 2006 murder of Sean Bell, gunned down by three undercover police officers who fired 50 rounds at him. It appears that police brutality in the Big Apple is common, and if you are ever a victim, you might want a police brutality lawyer on your side to demand that the law holds those police officers accountable.
What constitutes police brutality in New York? There’s a fine line between NYC police officers doing a job effectively while arresting alleged criminals and excessive force on compliant suspects. Don’t be afraid to contact a police brutality lawyer in New York City if you have been involved in a recent incident featuring NYC police officers going too far.
Read on to discover more about police brutality in New York and how a lawyer for police brutality might help your case as you seek justice and restitution.
Police brutality cases have haunted NYC for over half a century. One of the first prominent police brutality accusations was made by former crime boss Frank Lino, who accused NYC police officers of breaking one of his arms and legs, driving staples through his hands, and even placing a broomstick in him during a 1962 interrogation.
The legal system released Lino several years later after he threatened to take legal action against the city over this alleged police brutality, despite his connection to the murders of two Brooklyn police officers. Since then, New Yorkers of all walks of life have filed police brutality complaints against New York City Police Department officers.
One recent New York Civil Liberties Union report revealed that over 180,000 police misconduct complaints were sent to the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board between 2000 and 2020. These were complaints against more than 35,000 NYPD officers, and about 1% of these officers received serious discipline. NYCLU ended its report by recommending that the NYPD provide more transparency in sharing how it disciplines officers for police brutality complaints, but this didn’t have much of an impact – NYC police misconduct complaints increased by over 50% in 2023.
Some types of police brutality cases in NYC are more obvious. For instance, the department fired former NYPD police officer Daniel Pantaleo in 2019 for placing Staten Island resident Eric Garner. Pantaleo placed Garner in a chokehold during a 2014 arrest, killing him, even as Garner pleaded with him to stop (the recording revealed his pleas of “I can’t breathe” 11 times).
However, incidents don’t always have to escalate to this point for the law to consider it as police brutality. Other police brutality examples may include:
Were your rights infringed upon during an interaction with police officers in New York City? Explore the idea of hiring a police abuse attorney as you exercise your rights.
If you’re on the other side of a negative interaction with police officers in NYC, you might not immediately know whether the officers used excessive force against you. If so, a local police brutality lawyer will likely advise looking a little deeper into your experience. Take inventory, and look for signs that may suggest police officers overstepped their bounds.
For example, here are some common indications that you should touch base with a victims of police brutality attorney:
An excessive force lawyer can explain things to help you evaluate your interaction with police officers in New York.
Before filing a lawsuit against police in NYC, the first step is to secure as much evidence as you can. The police report stemming from your incident might not help much. Examples of other evidence you can acquire and pass off to a civil rights lawyer for the police misconduct litigation process include:
The more evidence you and your police misconduct attorney in New York City can collect, the stronger your lawsuit will be.
Understandably, working your way through the aftermath of police brutality in New York can present obstacles. A police brutality lawyer from Ross & Hill could work with you to create a compelling case and take it to court. Call (646) 351-6222 to learn more.
Here are common questions Ross & Hill hears about police brutality cases in NYC.
The statute of limitations for filing a police brutality case in New York City is 1 year and 90 days. You will need to file a Notice of Claim with the City Comptroller’s Office within 90 days of the incident to pursue a lawsuit.
A police brutality lawsuit in NYC could be worth millions, but it depends on the circumstances surrounding your case and your relevant injuries.
No, you do not need to hire a New York police brutality lawyer to file a lawsuit. However, a lawyer can make building and filing a lawsuit simpler and put together a stronger case overall.
