Wrongful Deaths In Police Shootings

Posted By The Law Offices of Eugene G. Bruno, P.C. Posted in: Wrongful Death.

Over the last few years, we have seen more than enough incidents of unjustified police shootings. Whether they shoot at unarmed suspects or suspects who no longer pose a threat, the videos of these incidents are often difficult to watch.

Two weeks ago, when a Chicago police officer was found guilty of murder for shooting a 17-year-old black man who was laying on the ground, there was some justice.

But what about closer to home?

A federal judge recently decided that an excessive force lawsuit against the Torrance Police Department can move forward after they fatally shot a San Diego female motorist in 2016. She was driving down the wrong side of the street. She was unarmed.

Her family says she suffered from bipolar disorder.

We know that these cases can be hard to talk about, but they need to be investigated. If you believe someone you love has been harmed or killed by excessive police force, you can contact Eugene G. Bruno today.

What Happens

Police in California undergo hundreds of hours of training to become officers, and that is just to graduate the police academy. They then move on to department-specific training that varies depending on where the officer works.

Police work is not easy, but officers know that when they get the job. We hold them to high standards, as we should.

All too often we hear of officers using excessive force. In fact, over the last few years you would be hard pressed to find a news cycle without a story of yet another police shooting or death due to excessive force.

• Laquan McDonald in Chicago
• Walter Scott in Charleston
• Freddie Gray in Baltimore
• Philando Castile in St. Paul
• Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge
• Tamir Rice in Cleveland

The list goes on.

Body cameras have become standard in many departments across the country because of many of these incidents, but yet we still hear about them.

Often, police end up killing those who have documented mental illnesses. They cite their erratic behavior and fear of being injured, yet we find out sometimes that police were not truthful in their statements.

When Laquan McDonald was shot 16 times, officers initially said he was a threat to them at the time he was shot. When the dash camera video was released a year later, we saw that was not the case.

What You Can Do

If your loved one has lost their life in a police incident, we want to extend our condolences.

We want to say upfront that we recognize the hardships that the men and women in law enforcement face every day. We also recognize that sometimes police officers use excessive and unnecessary force. When that happens, the incidents need to be investigated thoroughly. Only by bringing these incidents to light will they begin to decline. If you need a San Diego wrongful death attorney, you can count on Eugene G. Bruno to be by your side. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 888-278-6688.