Articles Posted in Police brutality

Excessive force in New York refers to the application of force by law enforcement officers beyond what is reasonably necessary to achieve a lawful objective. The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures, which includes protection against excessive force by police officers. In New York, determining whether force used by an officer is excessive involves an “objective reasonableness” standard, which evaluates the situation from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, considering the facts and circumstances without the benefit of hindsight.

Background Facts

The incident began when the plaintiff, an epileptic man, experienced four grand mal seizures. Two of these seizures were witnessed by a paramedic and an emergency medical technician (EMT). After receiving valium from the paramedic, the plaintiff partially recovered but refused to go to the hospital. Following protocol, the paramedic contacted his supervising physician, who insisted that the plaintiff be transported to the hospital due to the administration of a narcotic. The plaintiff’s refusal led the EMT to call the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department for assistance.

In this case, Judith Albaum sued the City of New York, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and several police officers to recover damages for personal injuries. The incident occurred when NYPD officers arrived at Albaum’s apartment in response to a call expressing concern for her well-being. Despite Albaum’s insistence that she was not a threat to herself, the situation escalated, leading to her removal from her home and transport to a hospital.

Background

When the police arrived at plaintiff Judith Albaum’s door in response to a call expressing concern for her well-being, she was inside her apartment, sitting at her desk and drinking a beer. Upon answering the door, she was informed that someone had called the police, worried that she might harm herself. She denied this allegation, identifying the caller as her estranged daughter and dismissing the concern as baseless. Despite police assurances that she was not under arrest and that they lacked a search warrant, Albaum refused to open the door, leading to a standoff during which she spoke to the police through the closed door for several minutes.

The case of Albaum v. City of New York revolves around allegations of false arrest, false imprisonment, and the use of excessive force by the New York Police Department (NYPD). The plaintiff, Judith Albaum, was arrested in Queens County in 2014 and charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. The criminal charges were later dismissed, leading Albaum to file a lawsuit against the City of New York and Officer Jose Rendon, among others, seeking damages for the alleged misconduct.

Probable cause and excessive force are two critical concepts in law enforcement that are closely related, particularly in cases involving arrests and the use of force by police officers. Probable cause refers to the standard by which police officers must have a reasonable belief that a crime has been, is being, or is about to be committed before making an arrest, conducting a search, or seizing property. It is a fundamental principle designed to protect individuals from arbitrary arrests and intrusions by law enforcement.

Excessive force, on the other hand, occurs when law enforcement officers use more force than is reasonably necessary to apprehend a suspect or control a situation. This can include physical force, such as hitting, punching, or using a weapon, as well as non-physical force, such as threats or intimidation. If an officer lacks probable cause to make an arrest, any force used to carry out that arrest may be considered excessive and in violation of the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable seizures.