When law enforcement officers abuse their power, they violate the constitutional rights of the very citizens they’ve sworn to protect. If you’ve experienced misconduct at the hands of police officers in Philadelphia, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure about your legal options. However, you should know that officers who abuse their authority can and should be held accountable for their actions.
At The Zeiger Firm, we have extensive experience defending clients against all forms of law enforcement misconduct, including police abusing power. We understand that challenging police abuse of power requires a detailed knowledge of constitutional law and an unwavering dedication to protecting our clients’ civil rights. As such, our skilled legal team will thoroughly investigate any police misconduct in your case and use all the available evidence to build the strongest defense strategy possible. Don’t let law enforcement abuse of power go unchallenged. Contact the Philadelphia constitutional lawyers and criminal defense attorneys at The Zeiger Firm for a free consultation to discuss your case.
What Is Abuse of Power?
Law enforcement officers hold positions of significant authority in our society. While most officers carry out their duties with integrity and respect for constitutional rights, some abuse this authority by taking advantage of the citizens they encounter. Abuse of power by law enforcement occurs whenever police officers exceed their legal authority or violate someone’s constitutional rights.
Abuse of law enforcement power can manifest in numerous ways. For example, law enforcement officers might:
- Employ excessive force during interactions with citizens
- Conduct searches without warrants or the necessary justification
- Commit sexual assault or engage in sexual misconduct during an interaction with a citizen
- Make false arrests without probable cause
- Falsify evidence
- File misleading reports to cover up their improper actions
In particularly serious cases, police abuse of power can lead to severe physical injury, psychological trauma, or death.
The U.S. Constitution, particularly the Fourth Amendment, protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures and the use of excessive use of force by law enforcement. When officers violate these fundamental rights, we can help hold law enforcement accountable. Courts have consistently ruled that any force police use must be objectively reasonable based on the specific circumstances they face.
For individuals dealing with law enforcement misconduct, understanding these constitutional protections is the first step toward defending their rights. Evidence of police abuse of power can significantly affect legal proceedings and may even lead to the suppression of evidence obtained through unconstitutional means. Additionally, those who have suffered a constitutional violation may be able to file civil lawsuits against the government officials and entities responsible for the misconduct.
Police Misconduct Statistics
Recent data reveals disturbing patterns of law enforcement misconduct across the United States. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, law enforcement officers killed more than 1,100 people in the United States in one recent year. Black Americans face a particularly high risk of experiencing police brutality, being three times more likely to be killed by law enforcement than white Americans and nearly twice as likely as Latino Americans.
These statistics point to a broader pattern of police violence beyond deadly force. According to available numbers, civilians suffer approximately 250,000 injuries at the hands of police officers annually. Many of these instances are likely preventable. The frequency of these incidents suggests systemic issues that require strong legal advocacy to address.
Pennsylvania and Philadelphia specifically have seen numerous cases of law enforcement misconduct in recent years. These incidents have led to increased scrutiny of police practices and heightened awareness of the need for police accountability when officers abuse their authority.
Common Examples of Abuse of Power
Law enforcement officers can abuse their power in many ways that violate citizens’ constitutional rights. Here are some frequent forms of abuse in law enforcement we encounter in our practice:
- Excessive Force – Using more physical force than necessary during arrests or other interactions with citizens, including unwarranted use of weapons or restraints
- Unlawful Searches and Seizures – Conducting searches without proper warrants or probable cause, or seizing property without legal justification
- False Arrests – Detaining or arresting individuals without probable cause or proper legal grounds
- Evidence Manipulation – Planting evidence, falsifying reports, or tampering with crime scenes to justify improper actions
- Racial Profiling – Targeting individuals for discriminatory treatment in stops, searches, or arrests based on their race, ethnicity, or national origin
- Sexual Misconduct – Using their position of authority to coerce or force sexual acts
- Witness Intimidation – Threatening or pressuring witnesses to change their testimony or refuse to cooperate with investigations
- Failure to Intervene – Officers witnessing misconduct by fellow officers but failing to step in or report the behavior
Understanding these common forms of abuse of power by law enforcement helps citizens recognize when their rights have been violated and when they need to seek legal representation to defend against such abuses.
How Brian Zeiger Can Help
When facing police abuse of power cases, you need an experienced attorney who understands how to effectively challenge law enforcement misconduct. Brian Zeiger and his team at The Zeiger Firm have built a strong reputation for defending clients against police abuse of authority through aggressive advocacy and meticulous preparation. We are ready to put our strengths to work for you.
Our approach to defending against law enforcement misconduct includes:
- Thorough Investigation – We carefully gather and analyze all evidence related to your case, including body camera footage, surveillance video, witness statements, and police reports.
- Constitutional Analysis – We examine every aspect of your interaction with law enforcement to identify potential violations of your constitutional rights.
- Expert Consultation – When necessary, we will work with qualified experts who can testify about proper police procedures and the effects of abuse of power in law enforcement.
- Aggressive Litigation – We fight to suppress evidence obtained through police misconduct and challenge the credibility of officers who have abused their authority.
We help individuals filing civil rights lawsuits against police and other government officials and with the underlying criminal case.
As trial lawyers with extensive courtroom experience, we understand what it takes to present compelling evidence of police misconduct to judges and juries. Our firm’s success depends on gaining the trust of our clients while maintaining credibility with the courts before whom we appear.
If you have been the victim of police misconduct, call The Zeiger Firm today or contact us via our online form for a free consultation about your case. We won’t let police misconduct go unchallenged.
