Morgantown Police Brutality Lawyer

With an estimated population of just under 30,000 in 2021, perhaps some would think that this, the fourth-largest city in our state, would be relatively calm and those in sworn job roles, like police officers, would be honest, upstanding citizens who always do what’s right. However, each Morgantown police brutality lawyer on our team knows a different side of law enforcement.

You might have seen the bodycam footage that made it on the local news in Feb. 2023, showing a police officer aggressively taking a domestic violence suspect to the ground outside of a bar. There are other reports, perhaps not as well documented, against Morgantown Police Department and other law enforcement agencies operating in the area that involve sworn officers overstepping their authority, which is essentially what police brutality or misconduct is.

Know that if you suffered physical and/or emotional harm in your dealings with law enforcement in Morgantown, West Virginia law may allow you to pursue police for damages for the harm you suffered. However, as you might imagine, holding responsible parties liable, especially government entities, isn’t easy. Our attorneys at Forbes Law Offices have a long, successful track record of advocating for victims of police misconduct and can help you hold them accountable. We can get to work for you right away. Reach out for a free initial consultation with a lawyer in our office today.

Why Does Police Brutality Occur?

There are a wide range of theories that exist for why law enforcement misconduct occurs. Some of the more notable reasons include:

• Lawmakers apply too strong of pressure on policing agencies to enforce local ordinances and/or state or federal statutes
• Police officers are stressed from being poorly trained, overworked, or underpaid for their roles
• There have been little legal ramifications imposed in response to officers abusing their authority in the past

There’s also the concern that, like any sample population, there are going to be some “bad apples” in the bunch. Those officers may engage in discriminatory tactics, for example, such as racial stereotyping when making traffic stops. Or they may make unwanted sexual advances against someone or threaten to file trumped-up charges against them.

Put quite simply; police misconduct that occurs in West Virginia can involve excessive force, the infliction of psychological trauma, non-consensual sexual imposition, and any other behaviors aimed at seeking special favors or usurping the standard lawful process.

Law enforcement officers engage in this impropriety because they feel that their badge entitles them to do so. And they’re so bold as to believe their proverbial “leash” of what they can’t get by with is long enough that they can do quite a bit of wrongdoing without facing any consequences.

Where Police Brutality Occurs

Rogue officers may feel compelled to exercise excessive force or feel empowered to engage in misconduct virtually anywhere; however, some of the most common places or instances in which they do include:

• If they have a particular distaste for a specific demographic (i.e., women, Black people, undocumented immigrants, Muslims, etc.)
• When attempting to manage crowds, such as at protests or demonstrations
• During police chases or traffic stops, especially when searches are initiated, or arrests are in progress
• When officers are patrolling the streets, where there might be significant numbers of sex workers or individuals who are homeless and may have addiction issues
• If responsible for vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, incarcerated individuals, or ones with memory disorders, mental health impairments, or physical disabilities
• When serving a search warrant, which often involves an element of “surprise” for those inhabiting the home, office building, etc.

Victims Most Commonly Subjected to Violent Police Brutality

Many news stories highlight the plight of Black men and how they often fall victim to police misconduct, and this is for good reason. According to the Mapping Police Violence project, during the 10-year period between 2013 and 2023, the following populations saw the highest police killings per 1 million individuals:

• Asian:7
• White: 26
• Hispanic: 34
• Native American: 42
• Black: 75
• Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian: 100

Some statistics circulated by government watchdog groups suggest that police brutality only occurs during 1% of all law enforcement-civilian interactions. However, each instance matters—especially when it results in someone senselessly suffering serious injuries or losing their life.

Our Motivation To Fight for Victims of Police Misconduct

When most individuals who have been hurt due to the wrongful actions of others make the decision to hold responsible parties accountable for the harm they’ve suffered, they often do so, for one, because they don’t want to have to pay for injury-related costs like medical expenses or therapy costs and be left with lost income. However, our attorneys at Forbes Law Offices often find that those individuals also want to stop the cycle when it comes to police violence so that no one goes through the same thing that they did. This is where the common ground between you and us lies.

We want our fellow Morgantown residents to feel free to go about their everyday lives without fear of being stereotyped and taken advantage of by those in uniform. We want to see the emergence of a more peaceful society in which police officers learn to assess individuals and situations they’re in on their own merits and de-escalate contentious situations instead of adding “fuel to the fire” and causing them to spiral beyond a point of no return.

This type of society is not some unattainable “utopia.” Achieving it begins with holding responsible parties liable for their actions. And that’s where we help you. Schedule a meeting with a Morgantown police brutality lawyer today to discuss the treatment you endured and your options for responding to it through our legal system.