Typically, police show remorse only in the most egregious cases.īoston police apologized last October for the death of a 21-year-old woman who was hit in the eye with a pepper-spray-filled projectile used to control a celebration after the Red Sox beat the Yankees.Įmbarrassment also might elicit an apology. 's Department, with more than 8,100 sworn personnel patrolling about 40 cities and unincorporated areas, has shelled out more than $3.8 million a year since 1999 in settlements and judgments from suits claiming excessive force. There are also financial incentives against apologies. Stone said he once lost a case after an officer expressed regret. 's a statement against your own interests," he said.Īttorney Mike Stone has defended officers accused of misconduct, including a Los Angeles cop who was videotaped striking a suspected car thief with a flashlight last year. 're saying up front that you were wrong and opening up the floodgates for lawsuits. 've never heard of apologizing after a police shooting," said Edward Mamet, a retired New York police captain who works as a consultant and expert witness. Police can be reluctant to apologize after incidents for a number of reasons, including the macho culture within some law enforcement agencies and concerns about outsiders second-guessing their actions.īut they are primarily worried about sending any signs of wrongdoing that could lead to discipline, civil claims or criminal charges. The May 9 shooting, videotaped by an amateur cameraman, left an unarmed suspect and one deputy wounded. “Had you seen a spinal cord severed or a death involved, I doubt really highly anyone would have apologized." “That and 35 cents will get you a cup of coffee," said Samuel Paz, a prominent lawyer who represents alleged victims of police abuse. 't have severe repercussions in any potential lawsuits because it was carefully worded as an expression of sympathy, not an admission of guilt, according to attorneys familiar with police abuse cases. 's based on the fear of lawsuits or prosecution. It was a rare instance of officers defying a common police taboo against mea culpas that 's deputies went before TV cameras and apologized for firing 120 rounds in a quiet neighborhood after a chase. Residents were still fixing shattered windows and bullet-pocked walls when nine sheriff
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