When you or someone you love suffers harm due to police brutality, misconduct, or a civil rights violation in Grand Rapids, you deserve justice. It can be overwhelming to face law enforcement agencies, whether it’s the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) or federal officers like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A Grand Rapids police brutality lawyer from our personal injury law firm can provide clients with legal support to defend their rights and fight for the justice and compensation they deserve.
In this Article
Getting Help If You Suffer Injuries by a Law Enforcement Officer
What Is Grand Rapids Police or ICE Misconduct?
Misconduct by law enforcement officers occurs when officers from agencies like the GRPD or ICE violate civil rights or citizens’ constitutional rights, including the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. A police misconduct or civil rights attorney can help you understand these rights and determine if you have a valid civil rights or police misconduct case.
How Common Is Police Misconduct in Grand Rapids?
In Grand Rapids, recent cases and community reports raise ongoing concerns about excessive force, racial profiling, and civil rights violations—prompting calls to hold law enforcement accountable. The Police Scorecard for Grand Rapids rates GRPD at 46%, noting 2 killings by police (15% higher than other U.S. police departments) and 1,142 civilian complaints of police misconduct from 2015–2020 (13% ruled in favor of civilians).
Common Types of Misconduct Cases
Most police misconduct cases and federal agent complaints fall into one of these categories:
Excessive use of force: abusing their authority by using more physical force than is reasonably necessary
False arrest: detaining someone without legal cause or probable cause
Illegal search or seizure: searching property without a warrant or valid reason
Malicious prosecution: initiating criminal charges without cause, which are later dismissed
Police shootings: the wrongful discharge of a firearm causing injury or death
Failure to intervene: an officer witnessing misconduct by another officer and doing nothing to stop it
Recording retaliation: being punished or arrested for lawfully filming police activity
Racial profiling/discrimination: targeting individuals for stops or searches based on race or ethnicity
Denial of medical care: withholding necessary medical attention from someone in custody
ICE misconduct: unlawful raids, excessive force, or unconstitutional detainers
How to File a Complaint
Victims have rights and can seek accountability through official channels and oversight bodies.
Grand Rapids Police Department Actions
If you believe a GRPD officer has committed misconduct, you can file a formal complaint with the department’s Grand Rapids Professional Standards or Internal Affairs Unit. Visit the City of Grand Rapids official website to file a complaint.
Michigan State Police Department Actions
Employee misconduct includes violations of law, civil rights, or department policy. The Professional Standards Section reviews complaints and may assign Internal Affairs, a field investigator, or a supervisor. Complainants, witnesses, and the employee are interviewed, and most cases finish within 90 days with notice to the complainant. File a complaint of misconduct.
Federal Agent Misconduct Actions
For misconduct by federal agents, such as those with ICE, the process is different. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) is an independent watchdog that investigates abuse and misconduct within DHS agencies. You can file a complaint directly through the DHS OIG complaint portal.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit in Michigan?
The timelines for filing a lawsuit are strict. By state law, Michigan’s general statute of limitations for personal injury is three years (MCL – Section 600.5805). Claims against government entities may have much shorter notice requirements, and you may have only a few months to formally notify the municipality of your intent to sue.
To understand your rights, including whether a police officer is protected against being sued under qualified immunity (42 U.S. Code § 1983), speak with a police misconduct lawyer as soon as possible after the incident.
How to Get Help If You Are Injured by a Grand Rapids Police Officer
If you were seriously injured due to police misconduct, contact a police brutality attorney in our law firm for legal representation. An attorney will explain the legal process of filing a civil rights lawsuit, evaluate the circumstances of your claim, help preserve crucial evidence, and handle communications with the city’s legal department or insurers.
If necessary, we can file a civil lawsuit in court on your behalf to seek compensation for your injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case.
A Grand Rapids police brutality lawyer can provide clients with legal support to defend their rights.
$7.5 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when a support wall fell and struck him. (Highest award on record for a construction injury in DuPage County at the time).
$3.2 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when he fell in an uncovered foundation trench, ranking as the highest award on record for a construction injury in McHenry County at the time.
$3 Million
Recovery for the family of a man struck by a garbage truck that was making an illegal turn.
$2.2 Million
Recovery for a salesman injured in an automobile collision.
$2 Million
Recovery for a man struck by a speeding vehicle as he waited for the CTA bus.
$1.5 Million
Recovery for a truck driver that was struck by another car on the expressway while his vehicle was disabled.
$1.4 Million
Recovery for a computer programmer that slipped and fell in the washroom at work.
Recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. At the time, this was the second-highest recovery on record in DuPage County for a similar injury.
$800,000
Recovered for a disputed wrongful death claim against a trucking company. The company denied they were involved in the collision.
$660,000
Recovery for a truck driver that was injured while unloading his trailer.
$550,000
Recovery for a person who slipped and fell in a grocery store.
$550,000
Recovery for a woman who injured her neck in a motor vehicle collision.
$500,000
Recovery for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle while standing on the sidewalk.
$460,000
Recovery for a truck driver that tripped and fell in the parking lot while making a delivery.
$450,000
Recovery for a dental assistant who slipped and fell at work on an unnatural accumulation of ice.
$425,000
Recovery for a union worker struck by a speeding vehicle.
$425,000
Recovery for a passenger in a vehicle struck by an inexperienced driver.
$415,000
Recovered for a woman that required neck surgery after aggravating an existing neck injury in a truck accident.
$400,000
Recovery for a lab technician injured while transporting equipment.
$370,000
Recovery for a construction worker injured on faulty equipment at a construction site.
$315,000
Recovery for a motorist struck by a falling utility pole.
$310,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$300,000
Recovery for a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.
$250,000
Recovery for a young woman struck by another vehicle.
$250,000
Recovered for a woman who sustained a partial finger amputation and other injuries in a rollover car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$250,000
Recovered for a 60-year-old woman involved in a car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man hit by a semi-truck while operating a go-cart.
$240,000
Recovery for the injured party struck by another vehicle.
$235,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$235,000
Recovery for an inventory clerk injured when shelving toppled onto her.
$219,000
Recovery for a restaurant patron that slipped and fell in the bathroom.
$200,000
Recovered for an airline employee struck on the runway at O’Hare International Airport.
$190,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$175,000
Recovered for a child injured by fireworks at a fourth of July celebration.
$170,000
Recovered for a person injured when she slipped and fell exiting a major retail store.
$150,000
Recovered for a woman who fractured her leg when she was struck by a vehicle.
Latisha S.
Great service. They helped me get my money, and everyone was very pleasant even though the health insurance took a while. Everything was on point on Kryder’s side.
(312) 223-1700