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| -War on Police- |
| Colorado jury awards $14M to protesters over police actions during 2020 Denver demonstrations |
| 2022-03-26 |
| [FoxNews] A Colorado jury on Friday awarded a $14 million judgment to 12 protesters after finding Denver police officers violated their constitutional rights amid chaotic demonstrations in 2020 over police brutality and racial injustice. Jurors found Denver violated the First and Fourth Amendment rights of protesters, who claimed police officers injured them during the gatherings that were sparked by the death of George Floyd, the Denver Post reported. They heard testimony about the alleged failure of police to coordinate during the law enforcement response during the three-week civil trial. The 12 plaintiffs were injured with bean bags and pepper-sprayed during several days of gatherings in downtown Denver. At the end of the trial, attorneys asked the jury to award $17.5 million in damages. "I think we established that when there are people committing acts of violence, what the police should do is take action against those people. What you can't do is take it out on the peaceful protesters," Tim Macdonald, attorney for seven plaintiffs, told Fox News. "The acts of violence against peaceful protesters by the police were so extensive, I think that's what persuaded the jury. He added that the city never presented evidence or argued that the plaintiffs had acted violently. "The Denver protests in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder were unprecedented – the city had never seen that level of sustained violence and destruction before," the Denver Department of Public Safety said in a statement to Fox News. "We were prepared for a worst-case scenario, but we weren’t fully prepared for what transpired." The agency said it recognizes "some mistakes were made" and that all officers have received additional training on crowd control response and rapid deployment tactics. High-ranking officers testified about the police department's response, with some saying it was difficult to discern who was throwing projectiles or causing property damage. "In 40 years I never saw such anger against police," Patrick Phelan, the now-retired Denver police commander who oversaw protest response, said during his testimony, the Post reported. One plaintiff claimed she was bruised during protests and was targeted by police for recording them with her cellphone, Fox affiliate KDVR reported. "It shouldn't be a weapons-first policy against peaceful protesters by the police and unfortunately, at least in significant respects, that is what happened here," Macdonald said. Denver has already paid out $1.3 million tied to lawsuits over protests. Related: Denver: 2022-03-12 Charges dropped against unlicensed security guard who shot man at Denver rally Denver: 2022-02-19 Sen Tom Cotton: gov spokesthing: Because we got caught, we are NO LONGER providing funding for crack pipes. Denver: 2022-02-14 Crime-ridden Denver is now PAYING businesses to set up in its drug and alcohol-ravaged downtown district in bid to rejuvenate area - as drug-related crimes in the city are 26.8 percent up |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #5 Do they understand where the money is going to come from? Smoke Shop taxes? |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2022-03-26 09:40 |
| #4 ^ Usually the Judge will not allow that point to be made, either |
| Posted by: Frank G 2022-03-26 09:11 |
| #3 Do they understand where the money is going to come from? Nah. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2022-03-26 09:04 |
| #2 Another place I will never drop any more tourist dollars in. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2022-03-26 08:07 |
| #1 Now I am wondering how many of the jury were protesters. |
| Posted by: NN2N1 2022-03-26 07:39 |