@Gigi they always get to fall back on that precedent that protects them from liability when doing their duties. I forget what it is called but whatever it is they claim that they have to have it otherwise they couldn't do their job.

I would say if your job involves shooting people without cause because you were afraid maybe you shouldn't be doing that job? And if they can't sue officers then citizens should be suing cities who don't train and regulate their cops sufficiently.

@enmodo @Gigi

I believe the term for which you're looking is 'Qualified Immunity'.

In theory it's a legal practice intended to keep police from being bogged down by spurious complaints, with genuine ones enforced by internal affairs. In practice it becomes a keep-your-job card and fosters rampant violence against anyone the officer in question just doesn't like -- which, as always, tends to be anyone who's not part of the dominant social milieu.