Manhattan Beach Criminal Defense Blog

It is only a matter of time before NFL training camps open later this summer and the story of Joe Mixon (and the controversy surrounding him) resurfaces. For those unfamiliar with the running back from the University of Oklahoma selected by the Cincinnati Bengals, he is essentially the new poster child for the angst against professional athletes who still play in the NFL despite having criminal convictions for domestic abuse.

What makes Mixon’s story so controversial is that he, like former NFL running back Ray Rice, is seen on video striking a woman. Rice’s video resulted in a year-long suspension and eventually a release from the Baltimore Ravens. Rice never played another down in the NFL.  This led many to speculate that Joe Mixon would not be drafted, and many believed that he should not be given the privilege to play in the league, despite all that he has done to make amends for his actions. 

A criminal charge can be life changing for those tasked to enforce the law. Yet, without the correct use of force, a dangerous situation can turn deadly. Where is the balance within the law? When prosecutors believe an officer has overstepped his or her boundaries, they may bring up charges of murder or manslaughter.

On-duty officers have used deadly force against civilians approximately 1,000 times per year since 2005. These incidents have resulted in just 77 charges of murder or manslaughter and 26 convictions as of September 2016. This means a conviction happens in less than one-third of one percent of all confrontations resulting in deadly force.

Calls for the review of police body cam footage have increased over the past few years. These requests commonly come as a result of complaints made against a police officer (or department) for civil rights violations. Indeed, body camera footage can be helpful in resolving baseless complaints, but it has the potential to be detrimental to an officer’s career.

For example, where there is a great deal of footage, violations (although benign) could be found no matter how procedurally correct an officer may be. The same could be said when body cameras are only on sporadically during an incident.

Indeed, curbing gun violence is a top priority for police departments today. To do this, local authorities conduct additional investigations with federal law enforcement bureaus to uncover illegal weapons sales. Sometimes these investigations may unwittingly ensnare local police officers.

Such may be the case with a high-ranking Pasadena police officer whose home was raided by federal agents. According to a latimes.com report, federal agents confiscated nearly 60 firearms, including 30 handguns, 20 rifles and three shotguns. The weapons were reportedly worth tens of thousands of dollars.