Los Angeles Law Enforcement Attorney | Criminal Defense Lawyer
California and federal prosecutors are increasingly scrutinizing the performance of law enforcement. If you are a law enforcement officer who is accused of a crime, then contact our office to speak with an experienced Los Angeles law enforcement attorney. The Law Offices of John D. Rogers is committed to representing law enforcement personnel who find themselves charged with a crime in state or federal court. Whether it be police officers, sheriff’s deputies, probation officers, or federal agents, all law enforcement personnel must retain a competent lawyer who has experience handling cases where an outcome can be career-ending.
Our office understands that law enforcement performance in the field is not something that can be taught in the classroom or academy. Instead, it takes years-worth of field training, personal experience, and guidance from senior officers. With civilians using mobile devises, more people are filming officers effectuating arrests of suspects. When a suspect becomes resistive, officers usually engage in force to subdue the suspect to safely place them into custody. However, society and the media will carefully and negatively scrutinize the officers’ performance. Accordingly, a common and legally trained method of subduing a resistive suspect, turns into massive media exposure calling for the officers’ employment termination.
It is imperative in trial that jurors need to be routinely reminded that officers do not know the persons they encounter. Whether a suspect has a weapon, attempts to strike the officer, officer safety, or perhaps evades arrest, are all factors a police officer must calculate in less than a second under unknown circumstances. Just because a suspect was injured does not mean an officers conduct was unreasonable.
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Initial Investigations & Early Intervention
Ordinarily, an investigation begins with: (1) a suspect is hospitalized after an arrest mandating a use of force investigation; or (2) a complaint is manually filed with internal affairs; or (3) media exposure causes federal agencies to open an investigation. Federal agencies usually include joint operations conducted by the Office of the Inspector General and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Federal authorities meticulously conduct their investigation which explains why charges are brought years after the incident.
Retaining an experienced Los Angeles law enforcement attorney at the earliest stages of the accusation(s) is crucial. A competent lawyer who has experience handling law enforcement prosecutions can legally deflect the government’s case and avoid from being charged altogether. Speaking with investigators or even your own union representative can have devastating consequences. As a general rule, do not speak with anyone unless they are an attorney.
Union Representation & Garrity Warnings
Running parallel with Miranda, an officer must be admonished of their Garrity warnings when speaking with internal affairs or a representative from their department.[1] Forced confessions or threatening employment termination for not giving a statement will be deemed inadmissible in court. Ordinarily, a union representative is appointed to represent the officer while undergoing administrative discipline. An officer usually confides in the representative just as they would with a lawyer. However, conversations with a non-attorney union representative is not confidential. Consequently, state and federal prosecutors routinely question and even subpoena union representatives to testify against you if charges are brought. Thus, the person you initially confided in to help save your job is now the star witness for the prosecution. Accordingly, speak with an attorney before you give any statement to a non-attorney union representative.
Charges We Handle for Law Enforcement Personnel
The Law Offices of John D. Rogers has represented officers charged with various offenses in state and federal court. Our clients include officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (“LAPD”), LA Sheriff’s Departments, and federal agents with ICE and FPS. Below are a list of offenses we’ve handled for our clients:
- Lying to Federal Agents
- Sexual Misconduct
- Public Corruption
- Excessive Force
- False Report
- Conspiracy
Defending All Law Enforcement Personnel Throughout California
Historically, prosecutors normally examine the evidence in light most favorable to the officer by giving the officer’s statement more latitude prior to making a charging decision. Without photographs or video recordings, the burden of prosecuting an officer becomes more challenging. Furthermore, suspects who were previously arrested have every motive to fabricate the circumstances given they suffered an arrest – a necessary point to expose in an effort to dismiss the charges or gain an acquittal at trial. Additionally, suspects could be setting themselves up for a civil rights lawsuit against the department and exaggerate the circumstances in hopes of obtaining more in financial damages. Overall, the motives of your accuser and their credibility are pivotal factors when mounting your defense.
Contact an Experienced Los Angeles Law Enforcement Attorney
If you are a law enforcement officer, whether special agent, police officer, or probation officer, and you’ve been arrested or are under investigation, then contact the Law Offices of John D. Rogers today.[2] Schedule a free confidential consultation with an experienced Los Angeles law enforcement attorney who is a criminal defense lawyer for police officers.
Footnotes:
[1] See Garrity v. New Jersey (1967) 385 U.S. 493
[2] With our office in Newport Beach, Orange County, we handle cases all through Los Angeles and surrounding communities, including Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Venice, San Fernando Valley, Inglewood, West Covina, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Pomona, San Gabriel Valley, Compton, Norwalk, Downey, El Monte, East Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Culver City, and El Segundo.