This case involves a pregnant woman who was injured during an arrest and transportation. While the officers in question were arresting the woman, she resisted, provoking the officers to use additional force to restrain her. During transport, the woman began to bleed, and cried out for medical attention, but nothing was done to assist her. Once they arrived at the police station, it was noted that she was bleeding profusely but no action was taken to attain the proper medical attention. The day after the incident, the woman suffered a miscarriage. It is alleged that the police officers conducted themselves in an inappropriate and unethical manner during the arrest and transportation of the plaintiff to the police station. An expert in law enforcement was sought to discuss the standard of care when an arrest is being made.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. Please describe your experience in law enforcement as it relates to the arrest and transportation of an arrestee or inmate. 2. What is the protocol for officers when an inmate/arrestee requires medical treatment and/or hospitalization for injuries sustained in an arrest and/or transport?
Expert Witness Response E-137078
I have 34 years of law enforcement experience. In short, I've trained and supervised police officers, conducted and supervised criminal and internal investigations, written police policy, served on the state correctional training commission, been the commander of the two largest state police training divisions, and oversaw all internal and criminal investigations for the division of corrections. Since, I have been certified by the state and U.S. District courts as an expert witness in police investigations, use of force, training, policy, and practices. In addition to working the road as a state trooper where I conducted hundreds of arrest and relative transports as trained, I was a field training officer responsible for training and evaluating new state troopers. Later in my career, I became the head of training for the state police and city police departments responsible for policy, training and necessary relative reforms. Finally, for four years as a state police detective sergeant, I conducted and or supervised all internal investigations for the division of corrections, to include investigations surrounding prisoner transports. My initial thoughts are that in general, police officers are trained that once they arrest an individual, they are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the arrestee, mainly because you have revoked their liberty and opportunity to care for themselves. Also, I know of no police department that does not have a policy requiring the arresting and transporting officer (whoever has custody of the arrestee) to provide immediate medical attention once injuries are known, or when the arrestee reports an illness and request medical attention. With the injuries being obvious and not tended to, minimally this is gross negligence, maybe even criminal. Resulting from an increased number of in-custody deaths over the past few decades, holding cell cameras have become not only popular but a safety necessity. In my professional opinion, a police department or detention facility would be negligent in not equipping a holding facility with video monitoring. The data clearly reflects its life-saving value when installed and used properly. Generally, department policy requires the responsible parties (transport officer and or arresting officer or supervisor) to seek and provide immediate medical treatment to the arrestee/inmate by a trained medical practitioner. This can be accomplished by onsite personnel, paramedics capable of responding to the location of the injured party or transporting the injured party to the nearest hospital or emergency treatment center.
About the author
Victoria Negron
Victoria Negron has extensive experience in journalism and thought leadership in the legal space, with a background crafting content, whitepapers, webinars, and current event articles pertaining to the role of expert witnesses in complex litigation matters. She is a skilled professional specializing in B2B product marketing and content marketing. Currently, she serves as an Enterprise Product Marketing Manager at Postman, and previously held the position of Technical Product Marketing Manager at Palantir Technologies, where she developed her skills in launch strategies, go-to-market strategy, and competitive analysis.
Her expertise in content marketing was further refined during her tenure at the Expert Institute, where she progressed from a Marketing Writer to Senior Content Marketing Manager, and eventually to Associate Director of Content & Product Marketing. In these roles, she honed her abilities in digital marketing, SEO, content strategy, and thought leadership.
Educationally, Victoria holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida - Warrington College of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Art, and Hispanic Studies from Hamilton College. Her diverse educational background and professional experience have equipped her with a robust skill set in product marketing, content development, and strategic marketing initiatives.
