While the vast majority of police officers do their jobs with the utmost care and respect for the power their position affords them, there will always be those who either abuse their authority or act carelessly and without due respect for the rights of the individuals in Western North Carolina. When police officers abuse their power, it is the common folks in our community that are injured or killed as a result of their abuse.
Police officers have been given the power by the State to carry a firearm and other dangerous, if non-lethal, weaponry, including batons and pepper spray. Officers also have the power to take away a person’s freedom at a moment’s notice, and without much of a requirement to justify themselves in the moment.
The criminal justice system often fails to convict rogue officers when they injure or kill people without justification. It then falls upon civil rights lawyers to obtain compensation for the injured people and the families of those killed by unlawful police action.
Police officers are only allowed to use reasonable force when they are carrying out an arrest. One of the most common violations of citizen’s constitutional rights by police officers is when the officers use excessive force, up to and including shooting and killing someone. The inquiry as to what amount of force is excessive is a fact- intensive inquiry that requires an experienced legal team to review and investigate all the relevant facts.
If your or a loved one’s civil rights have been violated by a police officer, call Melrose Law today at 800-222-2430 to schedule a free case consultation and let us help you determine whether you have a claim that should be pursued.
