Helping New Yorkers stand up against police misconduct: Part II

In our last post, we began a discussion about the protests taking place in New York and around the country. These protests were inspired, of course, by the deaths of Eric Garner here in New York and by Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

If these had been isolated incidents, they would still have been tragic. But it is doubtful that the public would have reacted with such anger. The fact is that incidents of police misconduct, racial profiling and civil rights violations are sadly common, although most don’t end in the death of a suspect.

Many New Yorkers who are African American or Latino understand what it’s like to be stopped and hassled by police for no apparent reason other than the color of their skin or the way they are dressed. These incidents frequently end in arrest and “suspects” are charged for dubious offenses like disorderly conduct. As often as not, a judge ends up throwing out the case because it is baseless.

At Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP, our attorneys help clients pursue compensation when they become victims of false arrest, malicious prosecution, excessive force or any other civil rights violations committed by law enforcement. We will carefully examine many sources of evidence, including police reports, to demonstrate law enforcement abuses or overreach.

Every American is guaranteed equal protection under the law, and that includes equal protection from unjustified police violence and harassment. If you have been the victim of illegal or unethical behaviors committed by a police officer, please visit the police misconduct page on our website to learn how we may be able to help you pursue justice.