Mississippi Police Excessive Force Attorneys

While police officers have long been looked up to as symbols of trust, authority and order in our society, in some unfortunate cases that trust is misplaced. When the confidence and expectations citizens place in police officers is violated, the resulting injuries can leave both physical and emotional scars. If you or a loved one has been the victim of police excessive force in Mississippi, the experienced attorneys at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton are here to help you seek justice and compensation.

Mississippi's Excessive Force Problem

The state of Mississippi is no exception to nationwide police misconduct issues, and, in fact, according to one body of research, the state of Mississippi rates third across the nation for highest reported number of misconduct incidents per 100,000 police officers. When you compare Mississippi's 1735.28 police officer misconduct incidents per 100,000 officers, to the numbers in Kansas (the lowest) of 295.81 incidents of misconduct per 100,000 officers, it seems reasonable to be concerned.

Recent Mississippi Excessive Force Case

Excessive Use of Force by City of Horn Lake Officer

A Northern District Federal Judge recently granted summary judgment for the plaintiff in a case of excessive use of force by a police officer with the City of Horn Lake. According to the complaint in this case, (Cooper v. Brown and City of Horn Lake), Officer Lynn Brown pulled Jacob Cooper over for suspected DUI. After exiting his car, Cooper fled, however didn't go very far, sitting down by an AC unit next to a nearby house.

Brown located Cooper, and, without warning, ordered his K9 dog, Sunny, to attack. It must be noted that at this point Brown was already aware Cooper had no pending felony or violent offense charges, and was not armed. The dog attacked Cooper as Officer Brown handcuffed him. Photos of Cooper showed significant injuries, yet Officer Brown's spin on the situation was that Cooper should have done a better job of saying "I give up," as the dog chewed on his leg. The judge in the case noted that Officer Brown did not appear reluctant to resort to force, rather seemed reluctant to terminate the use of force, even after it was obviously no longer necessary.

Key Facts About Police Excessive Force

If local stories like this make you wonder just how concerned you should be about the use of excessive force by police officers, consider the following facts:

• The Justice Department found that in 2008, among all of those who had contact with a police officer, about 1.4 percent either had excessive force used against them or were threatened with excessive force.
• In a Desoto County excessive force case in 2011, a jury returned a $250,000 verdict in favor of the plaintiff who claimed Sheriff's Department personnel beat him, causing extensive injuries, including an orbital eye socket fracture. The Sheriff's Department claimed the plaintiff "tripped over his own feet."
• A Bureau of Justice survey of inmates in local jails concluded that while 1.7 percent of all contacts resulted in excessive use of force by police, a full 20 percent of actual arrests involved excessive use of force.
• A Criminal Justice Policy Review study in 2012 concluded that a relatively small proportion of police officers are responsible for a large proportion of excessive force incidents.

Your Legal Rights and Options

You are entitled to protections under Mississippi laws, federal laws and the United States Constitution such as protection from unlawful and excessive force by law enforcement. When your rights have been clearly violated, there is legal recourse available.

The experienced excessive force attorneys at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton have a long history of helping those who have suffered from an officer's use of excessive force as well as:

• Jail inmate death
• Unlawful arrest and detention
• Coerced confessions
• Malicious prosecution
• Unlawful search and seizure
• Abuse of TASER use by police
• Inadequate policies and procedures in jail facilities related to suicide and excessive use of force

Police Departments We Handle Cases Against

If you have been the victim of excessive use of force by local Mississippi law enforcement agencies, you may be shaken up and unsure of what to do. We represent clients in cases against:

• Southaven Police Department
• Olive Branch Police Department
• Horn Lake Police Department
• DeSoto County Sheriff's Department
• DeSoto County Jail
• Other Mississippi law enforcement agencies

Why Choose Our Mississippi Excessive Force Lawyers

We believe strongly that you should not have to suffer such violations in silence. Our attorneys understand the challenges of taking on law enforcement agencies and have the experience and resources to fight for your rights.

Our Experience Includes:

• Complex federal civil rights litigation under Section 1983
• Cases involving police department policy failures
• Significant jury verdicts in excessive force cases
• Wrongful death claims against law enforcement

We Handle Cases Throughout:

• Northern Mississippi
• Memphis metro area
• DeSoto County and surrounding areas

Compensation for Excessive Force Victims

When police officers violate your constitutional rights through excessive force, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical expenses and ongoing treatment
• Lost wages and earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and trauma
• Punitive damages in cases of egregious conduct

Time Is Critical - Contact Us Today

Don't wait to protect your rights. Evidence can be lost or destroyed over time, and there are strict time limits for filing excessive force claims. We handle excessive force cases on a contingency fee basis - you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.

Call Stroud, Flechas & Dalton today for a free consultation.