You can sue police departments. Lawsuit settlements are one of the biggest parts of their budgets usually. You can't sue the cop personally though, he has "qualified immunity".
The tax money can be used to keep them in jail after they are convicted.
Also, there was absolutely no reason for that guy to shoot her at all. She was doing her job and reporting. That person held the gun up, aimed, and shot someone with their back turned. Rubber bullet or not, it's unacceptable.
It’s getting more impossible.
In a Trump EO signed on April 28, 2025 he’s making it harder.
From Section 3:
“(iv) strengthen and expand legal protections for law enforcement officers”
We all know that, but everyone in the Trump Administration sure are treating his Executive Orders as if they are law.
The FBI.
The DOJ.
The DOD.
And on and on.
Even Congress isn’t stopping him.
The Courts are, sometimes, but it’s not enough.
Is that so? Because there have been many settlements involving the LAPD in recent years. You'd think they would know better. Can't sue individual cops, but can sue the entire department and win. There are many law firms in LA that specialize in it. The Cochran Firm comes to mind.
It's really not. And this video is evidence enough. They've been sued in similar situations, because similar situations have happened before in LA. I would know because I've seen similar lawsuits happen here before. And the LAPD had to settle.
Also, judging by this video it wasn't a frantic riot situation. People were marching peacefully, and the cop randomly shot this reporter for no real reason. So yes, they can be sued.
The LAPD also has said themselves protests have been peaceful.
You can sue. What's impossible is holding the*individual cops* responsible. They get to hide behind the badge and the LAPD pays out settlements which then get paid by the taxpayers.
Comments
Also, there was absolutely no reason for that guy to shoot her at all. She was doing her job and reporting. That person held the gun up, aimed, and shot someone with their back turned. Rubber bullet or not, it's unacceptable.
https://laist.com/news/politics/los-angeles-liability-payments-costliest-cases
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/los-angeles-man-awarded-375000-in-lawsuit-over-injury-suffered-during-2020-protest/
however, taxpayers foot the bill, not the police. nothing will change until the money comes from cop pensions.
In a Trump EO signed on April 28, 2025 he’s making it harder.
From Section 3:
“(iv) strengthen and expand legal protections for law enforcement officers”
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/strengthening-and-unleashing-americas-law-enforcement-to-pursue-criminals-and-protect-innocent-citizens/
The FBI.
The DOJ.
The DOD.
And on and on.
Even Congress isn’t stopping him.
The Courts are, sometimes, but it’s not enough.
The LAPD also has said themselves protests have been peaceful.
https://bsky.app/profile/joshuaerlich.bsky.social/post/3lr4js2ydos23
You got one out of thousands of illegal uses of force and it took massive effort from the biggest civil rights defender in the US