Recently, we all learned about the abominable incident of the cop arresting a firefighter who was simply doing his job. It’s a particularly repugnant act given that we look to firefighters to save us from emergency situations like a fire or other life-threatening contretemps. Similar news items are become more commonplace. “Rogue” cops locking up people on extremely questionable grounds. However, even the term “rogue” is growing to be an anachronism as these incidents become the new normal. Outright unconstitutional searches, seizures and arrests. Equally unfortunate is the feeling of despair and helplessness that citizens experience when they continue to see these things happen. There is a feeling that personal liberty (and freedom from law enforcement abuses) is under assault and that we are declining into a police state. It can be demoralizing, understandably.
Don’t lose hope. You have far more civic power than you realize. Here are a few things you can do to ramp up your public participation and raise the spotlight with the hope of countering this tide of unchecked police power.
1. Keep posting on social media.
Much of the way people learn about current events is no longer the traditional so-called cable news outlets, which are accurately perceived as saturated in silly celebrity non-news, political platitudes framed as “op-eds” and even downright propaganda. On the other hand, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, Twitter and other outlets allow you to digitally disseminate news as it's happening simply by linking it to your wall. It’s a great way to make others aware of these wrongdoings. Every little post that raises awareness is part of the fabric of social mobilization toward justice. And it’s a great way to take advantage of the digital technology available to you.
2. Make sure the politicians hear your voice.
Make sure the politicians know that their jobs are in jeopardy if they continue to be apathetic or indifferent in the face of injustice. You ought to Have readily handy the email, phone number and other contact information of your local councilman, assemblyman, State Senator, US senator and so forth. Circulate online petitions. Change.org is a tremendous resource in this regard. Trust me: politicians act when they think they will be booted from office. If a large number of people demand that something be done about a particular injustice, then the politicians’ selfish interests come into play and many times they will leap into action for the sake of preserving their seat. Regardless of the motivation, they have power and resources at their disposal that average citizens do not. They can deploy government resources to launch criminal investigations on cops who abuse their power. Obviously, this does not always work, as highlighted by the acquittal of the police officers accused of having killed Kelly Thomas. However, there are many other counter-examples where cops are brought to justice for their crimes.
3. Know a good lawyer and have his number at ALL TIMES.
A California criminal defense lawyer who also does police misconduct cases can help bring justice and help remedy the situation. The Coimbra Law Firm routinely handles criminal defense cases and we represent plaintiffs in police misconduct cases IF your case has good facts that show a clear violation of civil rights. Moreover, we offer free consultations so you have nothing to lose by calling if you think you have a case. Our website is: www.CoimbraLaw.com and our toll free phone number is 1-855-385-5245 (which actually spells out 1-855-FUK-JAIL as an easy way to remember it).
4. Participate in a legal defense fund: Say, your friend or relative or someone you may not personally know but with whom you sympathize is facing an unjust criminal charge and can probably beat the rap with a good lawyer but doesn’t have the money to afford a good one. Small contributions can go a long way. A legal defense fund is a great way for loved ones, friends and concerned citizens to pool their resources together to pitch in for solid legal representation. With an acquittal, the defendant – if he was roughed up by the cops and his civil rights were violated – may be able to pursue a successful civil action against the cops. This has an overall social impact over time because local government gets tired of having to dish out six or seven figure settlements or verdicts for their cops’ rogue actions, forcing them to crack down on police misconduct. Therefore, litigation can be a great engine for social justice.
5. Film cops. You have a First Amendment Right to film the police. Exercise it. It has already been recognized by various appellate courts. Understand there are risks involved, with some overly zealous prosecutors bringing bizarre charges (like “eavesdropping” and “wiretapping”) against people who film the cops, which is outright idiocy. Police observers film cops all the time. And if they arrest you for filming them, you may even have a good false imprisonment civil against them.
A good criminal defense law firm, like the Coimbra Law Firm, can get these absurd charges thrown out and then prosecute the cops in a civil action.
Be creative. Think outside the box. There are so many other great ideas relating to civil participation that many of you have thought of or will come up with. These are all great ways help combat the ongoing war on our Constitution. Bottom line: get involved.
We share your frustration. It is disheartening to see the militarization of our police, who are supposed to protect our citizenry, not antagonize them. So use the democratic tools at your disposal. Years later, you will have yourself and your fellow citizens to thank for a more humane and just society.
(Disclaimer: NOTHING here is legal advice. Nothing on this blog or any other public materials from our firm constitutes legal advice if any kind. If you have a specific case or question, call us at 1-855-385-5245 for a free consultation).
