How To Protect Your Rights After A Case Of Police Harassment

Police officers are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and are not allowed to harass anyone they interact with, whether they be suspects or not. This is especially true for acts of intimidation or sexual harassment. If you believe that a police officer placed you in a situation where you felt harassed, you should begin legal action by speaking with a police misconduct lawyer.

Situations That Might Lead to Harassment

You may be stopped by a police officer when there is no reason for the stop. You may then find the police officer trying to intimidate you in order to receive information or may try to intimidate you into confessing to a crime.

Police officers are allowed to issue lawful orders. For example, an officer might issue you a lawful order to get out of the car. However, the order must be relevant to the investigation. For example, a police officer cannot order you to take off your glasses for no reason. However, if the officer has a justifiable reason to stop you and issue a lawful order, you may not be able to sue the officer successfully for harassment on these grounds.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment can come in the form of unwanted touching. In some cases, the officer might even commit sexual assault. However, an inappropriate gesture or comment can also be considered sexual harassment. Any sexual act that does not involve consent is considered sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment can occur anywhere and can be done to anyone. However, the process of figuring out how to file a claim can be confusing and you may need help from a police misconduct lawyer to successfully file your claim. 

Your Rights

Multiple amendments to the Constitution protect your right to life, liberty, and property. However, you may find it difficult to determine if your rights have been violated. Therefore, you should speak with an attorney to find out if any of your rights have been violated and whether you have a case.

If you will be filing a claim to the police department, you will need to follow very specific guidelines. An intake officer can review your claim and determine if it should be dismissed. If you are not able to clarify why the form of harassment was egregious, you are more likely to have your claim denied. For this reason, it's a good idea to speak with a police misconduct lawyer. Contact a police misconduct lawyer for more information.