Taxpayer Costs Soar as Police Misconduct Lawsuits Settle

Settlements for police misconduct lawsuits, often funded by taxpayers, have cost cities across the United States millions of dollars. These settlements, which rarely include an admission of guilt, are a common occurrence and can be seen as a "cost of doing business" for some jurisdictions. While the costs of settlements do not typically impact individual officers, they can strain city budgets and divert funds from other services. Experts suggest that gathering and analyzing data from lawsuits, implementing procedural justice training, and holding officers accountable for their actions can help reduce police misconduct.