Lecture Notes: Police Misconduct and Abuse of Power

Introduction

• Discussion of police misconduct and instances where officers abuse their power.

Case Studies of Police Misconduct

1. Paulding County Sheriff’s Deputy, Michael McMaster

• Date: March 4, 2022
• Incident: Deputy McMaster detains Tyler Canaris without clear explanation.
• Behavior: Aggressive search, body-slams Tyler.
• Injuries: Tyler suffered a fractured clavicle, thumb, and skull; traumatic brain injury.
• Outcome: McMaster was terminated and faced civil rights lawsuit by Tyler.

2. Visually Impaired Veteran, James Hodges

• Date: October 31, 2022
• Incident: Deputy Jamie Goad stops Hodges for carrying a cane, assumes it is a weapon.
• Rights Violated: Goad detains Hodges without reasonable suspicion.
• Outcome: Hodges charged with resisting arrest, later sued the officers.

3. Texas Eviction Notice Incident

• Date: Late January 2021
• Incident: Constable Curtis Traylor Harris and deputies caught stealing during an eviction.
• Evidence: Body cam footage captures them stealing cash and valuables.
• Outcome: Officers were arrested and charged with theft and oppression.

4. Officer John Kovach's Personal Conflict

• Date: April 16, 2018
• Incident: Kovach pulls over Makai Coleman, motivated by personal grievances.
• Behavior: Threatens Coleman and abuses police authority.
• Outcome: Kovach fired for violating police conduct policies.

5. Officer Daniel Holtzclaw's Sexual Assault Allegations

• Date: June 18, 2014
• Incident: Holtzclaw faces multiple allegations of sexual abuse from female traffic stops.
• Outcome: Charged with 36 counts of sexual abuse, found guilty on 18 counts, sentenced to 263 years in prison.

6. Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave

• Date: January 23, 2023
• Incident: Officer Dave strikes and kills a pedestrian while responding to a drug overdose call.
• Insensitive Remarks: Fellow officer Daniel Auterer discusses the victim's death casually, suggesting a monetary value.
• Outcome: Auterer reassigned but remains in the police guild.

Conclusion

• The lecture highlighted various cases of police misconduct, illustrating the abuse of power and the impact on victims.
• Emphasis on the need for accountability and reform within police departments.