In recent years, police brutality and civil unrest have increased. This raises the question, “Can I defend myself against excessive police violence?“. Recently, the United States has been dealing with a serious police brutality problem. Several cases have been in the news where police officers have used excessive force against civilians, causing people to wonder if there is a way to defend themselves from such excessive force when they are in a threatening situation.
Can I defend myself against excessive police violence?
If you live in the United States, you have probably heard about the excessive police force that police use against citizens. It may be in the news, on the internet, or even on your own street.
It is important to know what you can do to fight back against excessive police violence. Right now, in the United States, there are no laws that protect a person from police brutality.
This leads us to the question, “Can you protect yourself from excessive use of force by police?”
Can One defend itself from the excessive police force?
Let us rephrase whether it is right to strike a police officer when the police use excessive force.
The answer to that question is that it is not lawful to physically assault a police officer in self-defense against the excessive police force.
It is against state criminal penal codes, of which if found guilty, you could go to jail for battery, assault, and resisting lawful arrest.
The answer to that question is that it is not lawful to physically assault a police officer in self-defense against the excessive police force.
Therefore, a person who is detained or arrested by a police officer has no right to assault the officer on the right to self-defense if the person feels the officer is using excessive force.
First and foremost, an officer will never use force against you if you do not comply.
Although this latest trend of people resisting officers is becoming more popular, it is beginning to garner great social acceptance from certain groups and individuals.
Yes, every person has that long-standing right to self-defense, but not in the face of resisting arrest.
If you do, the table might turn against you, and that would not be fun.
We are concerned about your overall safety, both at home and outside your home.
You should always have it in the back of your mind that an assault on an officer due to excessive police force could result in you being injured and mistreated.
What you should do when an officer uses excessive police office on you.
You should not strike a police officer in self-defense if he uses excessive police force against you.
There are better alternatives to resolve such issues; besides, the legality of an arrest should not be debated in the streets but in a competent court, where your rights are preserved, and justice is served.
Trust me, if you remain calm and do not resist arrest, you will not be mistreated by the police for whatever reason.
What if the cops are using excessive force on me?
To throw more light on this issue, a police officer will use force if he deems it appropriate and within the bounds of the law.
If that force is found to be reasonable and within the dictates of the law, as is predominant, and you are still resisting and assaulting a police officer based on self-defense, please know that your claim may not be valid and, most likely, expose you to further injury.
In order to establish that your claim of self-defense against police brutality is valid, it must be proven by a judge or jury in court.
If you intend to defend yourself against the police, even if justified by the law, you must realize that the systems are well in place against you, and you could get yourself into trouble.
But there is a twist to this …
Your claim of Self-defense can be valid.
- If you have valid and reasonable evidence to show that you do not know he is a police officer.
- Suppose the police officer assaults you because of an argument and not because of resisting arrest. For example, if a police officer in uniform hits you because of an argument (petty dispute) and not because of the arrest. In this case, the law could rule in your favor because the officer was not acting as a police officer. Therefore, he is not entitled to the legal protections that police officers have and could be considered a brawl between two arguing civilians.
- If you think that someone claiming to be a cop is really just a criminal posing as a cop, even if they are wrong after the fact.
Can I kick/evict a cop off my property?
I know many factors could cause you to attack or defend against the attack of a law enforcement officer, one of which is an illegal invasion of your property right?
You want to know if you can legally evict a police officer from your property right. Well, the answer is a BIG YES.
Under U.S. law, an officer can remotely monitor activity on your property (e.g., house, people, etc.), preferably in a public place, without entering your property.
They may not enter your property without a valid warrant. However, they can take reasonable steps, such as entering your property to knock on your door and ask if they can talk to you.
In this case, you may say no at that time and want them to leave. If they do not have a warrant or probable cause, they must leave your private property at that time.
Remember, you are not allowed to use physical force against them. Should you try, it could end badly for you, possibly with you manhandled, dead, or possibly arrested and caused to face serious charges.
It is illegal for a police officer to enter your private property without a signed legal paper known as a search warrant.
A police officer cannot enter your property if your fence has a “No Trespassing” sign without a warrant, the new law says.
This is only possible if you have, in fact, a privacy fence and no trespassing sign in your place.
A law enforcement officer has no right to enter your property to search or seize your property without a proper warrant and has no right to harass you or any member of your family at any time.
When it comes to evicting a police officer from your property, I do not recommend using force as a safety measure.
In fact, you should never use force against a security officer as it can get you into further trouble.
So the best way to evict a police officer from your property is to politely ask them to leave, especially if they come without a warrant. You cannot stop them if they have a valid warrant.
And if they refuse to leave, politely call a police officer on them, and they would reluctantly leave.
Always make sure your door has a safety lock or chain if you don’t want to talk to them.
How to protect yourself from police brutality
We don’t want it to get to a point where you’re blindsided. Police brutality is, unfortunately, has come to stay.
Therefore, there are several strategies and Safety tips when dealing with a police officer to avoid getting in trouble.
This section describes the various ways you can protect yourself from police brutality. This is the best way to defend yourself against excessive police violence.
Always keep your hand in plain view.
If a police officer is facing you across the street, be sure to keep your hands in view at all times.
By keeping your hands where he can see them, you are signaling that you mean no harm and therefore have no need to use extreme measures.
Do not move or make any unpredictable moves, and do not argue with him. Arguing with him can expose you to harm, for example, by showing excessive police force.
Keep a record of the officer.
This is very important. Always be sure to remember an officer’s name or badge number, as well as a concise and descriptive description of the incident so you can write it down as soon as possible after the encounter.
Second, if possible, always have a camera handy, especially a disposable camera in your car.
This will be strong evidence against him should he try to frame you.
Calmly assert your rights.
If an officer approaches your property without a valid warrant, you should calmly assert your rights.
Don’t be rude, but clearly demand to see the warrant. And if you don’t want to talk to him, calmly but firmly tell him you “do not consent,” make sure your camera is recording everything.
Avoid unlawful gatherings
Avoid any form of association that puts you in such a difficult position. It is your duty to be a law-abiding and good citizen.
Do not display a firearm or any other dangerous weapon unless asked to do so.
Always remember to invoke your right
To be on the safe side, if you are questioned or interrogated about a crime (committed or not), always remember to invoke your Fifth Amendment right.
To do so, politely tell the officer that you wish to remain silent and ask that your shift be present during the questioning, whether or not you participated in the crime.
Conclusion: can you defend yourself against police brutality?
In summary, you can reasonably defend yourself against the unreasonable force from the police by challenging it in court with sufficient evidence. Still, it is seriously a bad idea to use force, and you should not.
If you become violent, you will end up being charged with resisting arrest. If you believe your arrest is/was unlawful, you should challenge it in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Can I resist excessive police force?” yes, so yes, you can, but you have to do it properly and calmly.