Does the Punishment Fit the Crime?
Denver police officer Devin Sparks says that Michael DeHerrera tried to punch him and he had to defend himself. But a video showed DeHerrera was just talking on his cell phone when Sparks tackled him, beat him repeatedly with a baton, and slammed a car door on him. The city council settled a civil rights suit brought by DeHerrera for $17,500, and the city's independent police monitor recommended that Spark and Corporal Randy Murr be fired. But the department only suspended the two for three days without pay for submitting an "inaccurate report."
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