Bad Cop Raids' Policy Implications: Big Taxpayer Payouts, Like $4 Million to a Lancaster Couple Cops Shot

Even for law and order conservatives who might not care about those precious "rights" often violated by overbearing police tactics should remember: they can be very fiscally unconservative, as see this story from CBS Local Los Angeles:

A Lancaster couple has been awarded over $4 million nearly three years after deputies invaded their home and opened fire.

Sheriff's Deputies Christopher Conley and Jennifer Pederson were searching for a parolee-at-large in October 2010 when they raided the makeshift residence of Angel Mendez and his wife, Jennifer, without a warrant, court records show.

The couple was shot more than a dozen times.

The male victim was forced to have his leg amputated as a result of his injuries. He was holding a rifle-style BB gun at the time of the raid.

His wife, who was pregnant at the time, suffered a shattered collar bone.

The couple filed suit in 2011, alleging excessive force and federal civil rights violations….

U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald…concluded the deputies "violated Mr. and Mrs. Mendez's constitutional right to be free from an unreasonable search based on the manner of entry"….

Angel and Jennifer Mendez were awarded a respective $3.8 million and $222,000, their attorney said.

Much, much more from Reason on bad, dangerous policing.