Patrick G. Geckle LLC

Learn to Recognize Abuse Police Encounters and When to Speak With a Civic Rights Attorney

If you learned from our recent posts about police abuse and hiring a civil rights attorney, look through these related articles:

• If you are stopped and questioned by police, an officer has the right to frisk the outside of your clothing if he or she suspects you may be armed. This is known as a Terry Frisk, and PoliceLink features an article about how it is used.
     
• The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a champion of civil rights, explains the boundaries of searches incident to arrest.
    
• In 2010, the Supreme Court held that interrogation suspects must unambiguously invoke their right to remain silent if they wish to do so. The Washington Post explains the option.
     
• Police do not have to have a warrant to arrest someone so long as there are exigent circumstances surrounding the apprehension. The Federal Bureau of Investigation explains how recent judicial actions have interpreted this provision.
      
• The American Civil Liberties Union published an informative brochure about citizens’ rights when they encounter law enforcement.

If you are a Pennsylvania resident whose rights have been abused by the police, contact the Law Office of Patrick Geckle, He is an experienced civil rights attorney who specializes in wrongful arrest and police brutality litigation. Call his Philadelphia office at (267) 234-7708 for a consultation about the strength of your case.

When Should I Hire a Civil Rights Attorney?

The Constitution guarantees all Americans a certain set of rights: freedom of speech, freedom from self-incrimination, and the right to privacy. Law enforcement officials and others in public office can sometimes violate these rights though excessive force. If the police have victimized you by violating these essential rights, you may have a civil rights claim for which you can recover damages. Here are instances when hiring a civil rights attorney may be necessary:

Police Brutality
If law enforcement officials used excessive force when stopping, arresting, and booking you, you may have a strong civil rights claim against the individual officers and the department. Inhumane treatment, prolonged solitary confinement, and an inability to call a lawyer may all be illegal acts. Evidence of you injuries can support both a civil rights and a personal injury cause of action to be pursued in court.

Wrongful Arrest
If you were a bystander or were otherwise not acting in a criminal capacity, a police officer needed probable cause in order to arrest you. Police may sometimes invent untrue exigent circumstances to make it look as though they had no other choice but to arrest you. However, false arrests can be a violation of your civil rights, and you should hire a civil rights attorney to help you receive compensation for your pain and suffering.  

Age, Race, and Gender Discrimination
Civil rights violation is an umbrella term that can reference a number of different discriminatory situations. If you are being harassed at work because of your age, gender, or sexual orientation, you have a claim of action against the perpetrator (and the employer, if it happens in the workplace). When teasing crosses the line into discriminatory language, your civil rights are violated enough to file suit.

If your civil rights are infringed upon, hiring a civil rights attorney can ensure that you have appropriate legal recourse. An experienced litigator can help apply the law to your unique situation. Philadelphia residents worried about their rights should call the Law Offices of Patrick Geckle at (267) 234-7708.

Learn More About the Rights You Have as the Subject of an Investigation

This video discusses how to best protect yourself if police are making you the target of an investigation. The most important thing to remember is that you have the right to remain silent. Just like you do not have to testify against yourself in court, you can also invoke this right during an investigation.

Respectfully refrain from volunteering extra information and ask to speak to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, wait until you are formally charged in the investigation and then ask for a public defender or court-appointed counsel. Both options will provide you with essential legal help.

Your civil rights cannot be infringed upon just because you are the target of a police investigation. If you are facing police harassment, contact the Philadelphia-based Law Offices of Patrick Geckle, We are experts at civil rights law, so call us at (267) 234-7708 for a consultation today.

Taser Moratorium Press Conference Video

Take a look at this video of a press conference with the Governor of Vermont discussing their moratorium on TASER use after the recent death of a disabled man.

For questions about this or anything else, call the Philadelphia Law Offices of Patrick Geckle at (267) 234-7708. We can help defend your rights in the face of police misconduct and brutality.

A Basic Guide to Dealing with a Police Encounter

Interactions between police and citizens happen everywhere on a daily basis. However, not all interactions are particularly positive. If you are stopped and questioned by the police, you are protected by certain civil rights. A civil rights attorney can help you sue if those rights are violated. Here is a basic guide to surviving a police encounter by following the law: 

You Must Show Respect
Obey the officers’ commands and do not try to argue. Any perceived insubordination can be considered obstruction of justice, and a simple stop can turn into an arrest and jail time. Show the officer the same level of respect you should show an airport security guard.

You May be Frisked
Even if you are not getting arrested, police have the right to frisk you to search for weapons. This is known as a Terry Frisk, and allows law enforcement officers to feel the outsides of your clothing and possessions for weapons. Police can only reach into your pockets if they have a reasonable suspicion that you are carrying a weapon.

You Have the Right to Remain Silent
Even before you are read your Miranda rights, you have every right not to disclose information to a police officer. Answer their questions courteously and never lie, but feel free to keep your statements short and to the point. Incriminating statements can give the officer probable cause for arrest.

You Can Deny a Search
If you are pulled over during a traffic stop, you have the right to deny police the ability to search your car. Police have the right to search your car only after you have been arrested (searches incident to arrest are legal), but if it is a routine stop and an officer asks to look in your trunk, you can say no.

Police-citizen interactions can spiral out of control very quickly. If your rights have been violated during an encounter with a police officer, you need an experienced civil rights attorney. Call the Philadelphia Law Offices of Patrick Geckle at (267) 234-7708. We can help defend your rights in the face of police misconduct and brutality.