With the implementation of body cams and dash cams, recording an officer’s behavior while on duty has become easier than ever before. Officers are facing scrutiny from all sides while attempting to do their jobs. As public outrage over police brutality and shootings surges, de-escalation tactics are gaining popularity, but are they effective?
Use of force
The standard approach to policing is to use the problem-based policing approach. Under this training and way of policing, officers are trained on when and how to use force that is objectively reasonable. While some situations allow an officer to step back and access what is going on most do not and officers must make snap second decisions on how to handle potentially violent people. Every year around 1,000 people are shot and killed by police and over half are wielding guns. Officers need to know how to respond to these threats.
What is de-escalation?
De-escalation policies are meant to slow down situations when officers may need to use force in order to avoid or lessen the use of police force. During de-escalation training officers are taught that they need to control themselves before attempting to control others. The training teaches officers to identify their personal triggers and work towards recognizing and overcoming the triggers. In a de-escalation situation the goal is to gain compliance by will, not compliance by force.
De-escalation tactics are impractical for every situation and could endanger an officer’s life. For officers making an arrest, use of force in the heat of the moment may seem completely reasonable. However, the use of force may come back to haunt them in the form of an arrest afterwards. Police officers walk a fine line between keeping the peace and contributing to the problem and it can be difficult to be objective about your own actions. If you have been arrested for using excessive force there are legal options. Don’t let an arrest end your career.
]]>In a recent Facebook post by actress Kristina Cohen, she outlines the night she claims Westwick raped her in the guest room of his house in 2014. She stated that she broke her silence on the incident after hearing accusations against Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.
Cohen isn’t the only one to accuse Westwick of sexual assault. After word spread about the post, another actress, Aurélie Wynn, also posted a similar account on Facebook. Like Cohen, Wynn kept her claim to herself for the past three years.
Westwick publicly denied that he has ever met Cohen. He also denies all of the allegations. He and his representatives have not responded to Wynn’s statement at this time. The LAPD has begun an investigation into the claims. So far, no strong evidence is public.
Both women likely found motivation to come forward with their allegations in light of the major increase of sexual assault cases within the entertainment industry. Both women also linked their suppression of the incidents to the power that public figures like Westwick hold. Without knowing the specific facts of these cases, we have no way of knowing whether such allegations have any validity.
Whether true or false, sexual assault claims can cause irreparable damage to one’s image and career. Even for non-celebrities, it can be difficult to overcome the stigma of such accusations before holding a fair trial. Such a stigma can also have lifelong consequences. It can mean jail time and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Sometimes that stigma lingers even after the trial proves innocence, potentially interfering with your relationships and your ability to locate a job. While those who fabricate allegations can face consequences for causing these serious issues, there still are instances where innocent individuals face arrest for sex crimes due to such allegations
While the investigation has just started, Westwick has contacted legal representation. An attorney can help you battle false accusations of rape and sexual abuse so you don’t have to face the penalty reserved for actual offenders.
]]>So far, it has proven difficult for authorities to bring criminal charges against the former executive. In one incident that occurred in New York in 2015, a model named Ambra Battilana Gutierrez told New York police that Weinstein had groped her. The Manhattan district attorney declined to bring charges against the mogul, and Weinstein reportedly reached a settlement with Gutierrez. Several of the alleged victims have settled with Weinstein or have signed affidavits refuting their accusations.
Despite the lack of criminal charges against him, Weinstein could still face a flood of civil lawsuits. In the state of California, there is a two-year statute of limitations for civil sexual assault. But if an alleged incident is timely and took place in California, the accuser could still pursue civil charges.
Even if he is not prosecuted criminally or civilly, the allegations have already had serious consequences. Weinstein was already fired by his former company after 15 years at its helm. He is at the center of a firestorm of media attention and negative publicity that has made him a household name. It is unlikely that his reputation or career will ever fully recover.
Anyone who is facing allegations of sex crimes can contact a skilled attorney who specializes in sex crimes and criminal defense.
]]>Bruce Paddock, 58, was taken into custody at an assisted living home on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, media outlets reported. He was apparently in a wheelchair when arrested and had to be lifted into a police van by officers.
Paddock is the brother of Stephen Paddock, who shot and killed 58 people from a Las Vegas hotel window as they attended a concert. He wounded hundreds of other concert-goers before killing himself.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has charged Bruce Paddock with one felony (possession of child pornography) and 19 misdemeanors (sexual exploitation of a child).
Law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Daily News that the investigation into Bruce Paddock began before the Las Vegas shootings and that he is not considered a suspect in that horrific event.
There's no connection "that we know of" between the two events, said the LAPD chief.
The brother of the shooter is apparently considered a transient. The investigation began when police found him squatting inside a business property in Sun Valley. After he was evicted, investigators apparently searched his laptop and said they had found on it child porn.
There have been -- understandably -- many emotional responses to the news of the arrest, many of which are colored by the tragic events in Las Vegas. It's important to remember that all of have a right to defend ourselves against accusations of wrongdoing and that we should not be held responsible for the acts of others.
If you face similar charges, you can speak with an attorney experienced in sex crimes defense.
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