EP 7: 08/07/24 - Police Officer Sued Alleging Force Was Grossly Disproportionate

Interact with Tim Rupp and The Strong Blue Line by email to [email protected]

What happened that police officers, and departments, can be sued and/or disciplined for their actions deemed inappropriate? Tim takes you through a case in which an officer approached a supposed passed out drunk on private commercial property. The officer reached for what he thought was the man's identification from his pocket and the man punched the officer in the face. In the officer's reaction, he returned 4 hard punches in 4 seconds. The case suggests that 4 punches was excessive, and that the man lost consciousness with the first or second punch and the officer should've recognized this.