LIABILITY ISSUES FOR POLICE

We have seen video-tape evidence of so-0called police brutality, especially in California with Rodney King, and more recently with the alleged beating of a black teen-ager. Several weeks ago, 120 rounds were fired by sheriff's deputies in Compton CA, into the car of an unarmed suspect. These were only a few of the alleged instances of police brutality, often done with the use of firearms. Makholm's article (2005) focuses in particular on the death of a female student in Boston caused by what he refers to as "less than lethal" weapons. The article covers the fac5t that, whether lethal or less-than-lethal weapons are used, the important point is "the use of force reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances" (Makholdm 2005 1).

Makholm describes himself as a trainer in "high liability subjects" (Makholm 2005 1). This means that the police may well be liable for injuries or deaths that occur when a court decides that unreasonable force was used in the particular incident. The article points out that even so-called "less-than-lethal" weapons can cause both serious injury, and n the case of the Boston student, Victoria Snelgrove, death. In such incidents, the police may be held criminally liable. Makholm writes that "part of the problem lies in the perceptions of officers that these types of weapons do not kill people and therefore are 'safe' to use" (Makholm 2005 2).

The article is clearly pointing out that no poli

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Officers' Legal Rights with John Makholm Page Last Updated: undefined, May 22, 16:35 PST
Liability Issues in Pepper Ball and Other "Non-Lethal" Weapons The recent pepper ball related death of 21-year-old Victoria Snelgrove in Boston, caused that city's police department and many others around the country to reflect on the uses of what is referred to as compressed air guns which fire various types of "OC" pepper ball projectiles. In the case of Boston, it was reported that the city almost immediately ceased using the HN Herstal FN 303 and replaced it with a Jaycor brand pepper ball gun. Other governmental entities are re-evaluating not only the brand of pepper ball guns they are using, but also the training and placement of pepper ball guns on their use of force continuums. Pepper ball guns, as well as bean bag guns and electronic weapons such as Taser and Stryker are all grouped together in the category of "less than lethal" weapons for police and corrections officers. The terms "less than lethal" can be somewhat misleading. The American-Heritage Dictionary defines "Lethal" as: "capable of causing death." So, it is commonly assumed that "non-lethal" means that it will not or is unlikely t
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Approximate Word count = 2438
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)

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