Patrick G. Geckle LLC

4 Signs that You Have Been Treated with 'Excessive Force' by a Police Officer

With thousands of arrests occurring every day, not all police-citizen interactions have to involve violence. If law enforcement officials violated your civil rights, you may have a legal claim against the police department and be able to receive financial compensation for your pain. Here are four signs that you may have been treated with excessive force by a police officer:

Too Much Force During Arrest
Placing someone into custody should not result in serious bruises to the hands, back, or head. If police used excessive force on you while detaining you and placing you in a patrol car, you may have a claim against them in court. This is particularly the case in instances where you sustained serious injuries during the arrest process.

Prison Abuse
If a prison guard hurt you or otherwise violated appropriate policies, it may be sign that to you have been treated with excessive force. In both jail and prison, you are entitled to basic human rights. A pattern of abuse during incarceration may warrant legal action.

Use of Deadly Force Without Justification
This is an unmistakable example of using in inappropriate amount of force. If you or a loved one have been shot at or injured with a police firearm because the officers chose to shoot instead of using non-deadly force, you may have a legal claim for excessive force. So long as officers could not have suspected that you were also armed, they had no right to aim their guns at you and pull the trigger.

Overuse of Tasers
Similar to excessive force during arrest, the use of Tasers is often unnecessary. If police used a Taser on you when less painful options were also available, you may be able to show excessive force in a court of law. Inappropriate and excessive use of Tasers can strengthen your civil rights claim against the police.

Do not let police get away with brutality. Pennsylvania residents who were victims of police brutality should contact the Philadelphia-based Law Office of Patrick Geckle to see if your case is strong enough to file an action in court. Call us at (267) 234-7708 today for a free examination of your unique situation.

Keep Up-To-Date With Your Rights as a Citizen with Help from These Websites

American citizens often don’t realize when their civil rights have been violated. To learn more about your civil rights and how a civil rights attorney can help you when those rights have been violated, please read the following articles.

• The U.S. Department of Education wants you to know your civil rights.
     
• If you believe that you have been discriminated against, contact a civil rights attorney. Also, file a complaint with the United States Department of Justice.
    
• ABC News describes the common occurrence of excessive force, which is a form of police brutality.
     
• The Huffington Post reports on a recent Philadelphia incident wherein a police assault was captured on video.
       
• According to CBS Local News, a Philadelphia councilman wants to put more attention on the investigations of local police misconduct.

If you are the victim of discrimination or police abuse, contact Patrick G. Geckle LLC. Providing expert legal counsel to individuals who have experienced police brutality and other civil rights violations, we can help you seek justice for your pain and suffering. To learn more about our legal services, or to schedule a consultation at our Philadelphia office, call (267) 234-7708.

Important Questions About Police Misconduct, Answered

Law enforcement officials are entrusted with protecting the American public. Though the great majority of police officers faithfully uphold this promise, some abuse their power and the rights of citizens as well. Often, victims of police abuse are unaware that their civil rights have been violated. They assume that they must have done something wrong to deserve such treatment. However, if you have experienced police treatment that prompted one of the following questions, you most likely have been a victim of police misconduct. If so, immediately contact a civil rights attorney regarding your legal options.

• Can a police officer pull me over if I haven’t violated a law? In a word, no. If you were obeying all driving laws but were stopped by a police officer, you may be the victim of police misconduct. Many times, individuals are pulled over because of discriminatory factors. A police officer may stop someone because they have an older or damaged car. Alternately, some drivers with very expensive cars can be pulled over. In both cases, the police officer is making discriminatory assumptions about the drivers without any evidence of wrongdoing. Unfortunately, individuals may also be stopped simply because of their race or ethnicity, which is called racial profiling.
    
• Can a police officer search my car without probable cause? No. If you have been stopped by law enforcement, that doesn’t mean they can search your vehicle without reasonable grounds. As any civil rights attorney knows, if a police officer asks to inspect your vehicle, you have the legal right to decline their request. If they proceed to search your car anyway, it may constitute police misconduct.
   
• Can a police officer use physical force against me if I am not resisting arrest? A resounding no. If you are complying with the instructions issued to you by law enforcement, they have no legal right to become unreasonably aggressive with you. Even if you have no visible injuries after the incident, seek the counsel of a civil rights attorney to determine if you have been violated by the police.

Don’t let your civil rights be abused by law enforcement officials. Patrick G. Geckle brings more than 30 years of experience to each police abuse case. If you are the victim of police misconduct, call our Philadelphia office today at (267) 234-7708.

When Is a Police Officer Allowed to Search Your Car?

Police misconduct includes the unlawful stopping and searching of a vehicle. As this video shows, if a police officer searches your car with no probable cause, you should consult with a civil rights attorney regarding the violation of your Fourth Amendment right.

If your vehicle is stopped by law enforcement, remember your rights. Should a police officer ask you to exit your car, make sure to close your doors. An open car door becomes an easy target for a police search. Take note of what the police officer says to you. Law enforcement officials may ask confusing questions so that you inadvertently agree to something that by law you do not have to do. Should you knowingly or unknowingly consent to a search, you have given up your Fourth Amendment right.

Are you the victim of an unlawful car search? Patrick Geckle is a civil rights attorney who will see to it that you receive justice for your Fourth Amendment violation. To schedule a consultation at our Philadelphia area office, please call (267) 234-7708.

5 Questions About Civil Rights Law that You Need to Know

Encounters with law enforcement can be frightening and overwhelming. Regardless of involvement in any kind of illegal activity, every American citizen is afforded specific civil rights that cannot be violated by the police. The following five questions pertain to common occurrences of police misconduct, which constitutes a violation of the accused party’s rights. If you have experienced any of the following situations, consult with a civil rights attorney.

What if I was the victim of racial profiling? Unfortunately, police misconduct often occurs when law enforcement officials stop a vehicle solely because the driver is a person of color. This constitutes racial profiling, which is illegal and an abuse of a person’s civil rights.

What if my Miranda rights were not read to me? Your Miranda rights, or Miranda warning, must be read by a police officer if and when you are brought into police custody. Under these rights, you may remain silent, and you have the right to an attorney. If you are detained without these rights being read to you, police misconduct has occurred.

Can police interrogators coerce me to speak? No. As noted by your Miranda rights, you do not have to say anything to law enforcement. In most cases, legal experts agree that you should wait to until your civil rights attorney is present to speak with the police.

Can police interrogators use physical force against me? Absolutely not. If you are not acting in an aggressive manner toward the police, they have no legal right to use excessive force against you, especially after you are brought into custody. To do so is police assault, and it is illegal.

Why should I call a civil rights attorney? Only a civil rights attorney can capably defend you against the police misconduct you may have suffered. Don’t let law enforcement officials intimidate you into unlawful compliance.

Patrick G. Geckle LLC brings comprehensive civil rights law expertise to every police abuse and misconduct case. With over 30 years of providing legal counseling to clients in the greater Philadelphia area, we can help you seek justice for the police brutality you have experienced. To schedule a consultation, please call (267) 234-7708.