{"id":1419,"date":"2024-04-14T21:22:13","date_gmt":"2024-04-15T01:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shout.newdayrp.com\/?p=1419"},"modified":"2024-04-14T21:22:15","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T01:22:15","slug":"the-beatings-will-continue-until-morale-improves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shout.newdayrp.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/the-beatings-will-continue-until-morale-improves\/","title":{"rendered":"The beatings will continue until morale improves"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This is a Commentary Piece<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This piece was written by a member of the public or a high-profile individual as a submission to the editors. To write your own commentary piece, please contact a Shout News employee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Written by Matt Murdank<\/strong>
Partner at Hunt & OHagen<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A month has passed since our last publication<\/a>. Law enforcement officers have made no efforts to stop, reduce, or otherwise mitigate their pattern and practice of violating the rights of citizens of San Andreas. The Los Santos Police Department has declined every opportunity to make any comment, whether in response to specific publications or of their own initiative. The message from law enforcement is therefore clear and simple: The beatings will continue until morale improves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hunt & OHagen has recently filed three civil cases against the State and its various departments. The first<\/a> is on behalf of Hudson Welsh and the others who had their bail unjustly set at the unthinkable number of $276,000, collectively. The second<\/a> is on behalf of August Young-Roulette, who was shot by officers multiple times without warning or cause. The third<\/a> is on behalf of Chuc Wilbert, who was instructed by officers to step into an unblocked oncoming lane of traffic – just so they could watch him be run over without stopping another driver. Mr. Wilbert\u2019s right leg required a partial amputation as a result of officer misconduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The various branches of Law Enforcement and the Department of Justice have flatly ignored our last op-ed and press release, wherein we called for them to publish the data and records that would demonstrate their supposed commitments to justice and equality under the law. Because they would not produce the records about who was involved in the decision to unfairly charge Mr. Welsh and his colleagues, we filed suit. Because they shot Ms. Young-Roulette and did not make any efforts to compensate her for the harm she suffered, we filed suit. And because they cost Mr. Wilbert the terrible price of the lower part of his right leg, we filed suit. Legal action seems to be the only way to get the attention of the State, and so for as long as these abuses of authority continue, we will continue to file claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s worth noting that at least one Department has made a recent effort to show improvement. Sheriff Chris Stevens of the Sandy Shores Sheriff\u2019s Office recently made the time to meet with me personally to discuss his concerns about the items identified in our last release and other ongoing concerns of the public about officer misconduct. During our conversation, we discussed various opportunities for the Sheriff\u2019s Office to engage the public, listen to concerns, and improve officer training and civilian interactions. I am optimistic that Sheriff Stevens will make an effort to improve the status quo – nevertheless, until the Sheriff\u2019s Office starts speaking on its own behalf and doing the important work of public engagement, I remain skeptical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask yourself – when you see a law enforcement officer on their daily patrol, do you feel safer? Do you trust them to have your interests at heart, or are they only protecting each other? If the problem is only a few bad officers, where is the accountability? What about leadership?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our office finds itself in the regrettable position of not even being able to take every police abuse case that is brought to us due to capacity constraints. To me, the message being sent to the public from law enforcement is clear: The beatings will continue until morale improves.<\/p>\n