Police misconduct refers to illegal or inappropriate actions taken by law enforcement officers while on duty. These actions can violate a person's constitutional rights, state or federal laws, or even the department's own policies and procedures.
Common examples of police misconduct include:
- Excessive force: Using more force than is necessary to subdue a suspect or protect oneself.
- False arrest: Detaining someone without a valid warrant or probable cause.
- Racial profiling: Targeting individuals based on their race or ethnicity.
- Sexual misconduct: Engaging in inappropriate or illegal sexual behavior while on duty.
- Falsification of evidence: Tampering with or fabricating evidence.
- Planting evidence: Placing evidence at a crime scene to incriminate someone.
- Corruption: Engaging in illegal or unethical activities for personal gain.
Police misconduct can have serious consequences for both the individuals involved and the community at large. 1 It erodes public trust in law enforcement and can lead to civil rights violations and criminal prosecutions. 2