When Police Cross the Line: Understanding Excessive Force

When law enforcement officers use physical force, it’s supposed to be reasonable, just enough to control a situation or protect themselves and others. But when that force goes beyond what’s necessary, it becomes excessive, and it violates your constitutional rights.

What’s Not Considered Excessive Force

In most traffic stops or arrests, officers are legally allowed to use proportionate force if a person resists.
As Don Smolen explains:

“If an officer asks you to get out of your car and you refuse, they can pull you out. If you resist, they might take you to the ground to detain you. That’s not excessive, it’s a part of the process. The question is whether that force was justified under the circumstances.”

If you comply with officers’ commands and don’t resist, there should be no reason for physical harm. When you fight back or refuse, officers can use some level of physical control—but that doesn’t mean they can hurt you unnecessarily.

Across the country, this problem is far from rare. According to national data:

• Roughly 1 million civilians each year experience police use of force or threats of force.
• Around 75,000 people annually require hospital treatment for injuries caused by law enforcement.
• Each year, between 1,000 and 1,200 people are killed in police-involved incidents.
• Cities and counties have paid over $3 billion in the last decade settling police misconduct lawsuits—costs that come directly from taxpayers.

These numbers show that excessive force isn’t just a headline—it’s a systemic issue that affects real people, families, and communities.

What Is Excessive Force

You often know it when you see it.
If someone is already detained or not resisting, and the officer:

• Punches or kicks them,
• Slams their head into the pavement,
• Uses a taser, chokehold, or other violent tactic when there’s no threat,

—those actions cross the line.

Excessive force can happen during arrests, protests, traffic stops, or even inside jails. It’s not about whether you were guilty or innocent—it’s about whether the officer’s response was reasonable under the law.

What To Do If You’ve Been a Victim of Excessive Force

If you believe you were assaulted, injured, or mistreated by law enforcement:

1. Get medical attention immediately. Document every injury with photos and medical reports.

2. Write down everything you remember—names, badge numbers, times, witnesses, and video evidence.

3. Do not discuss the incident publicly until you’ve spoken to an attorney. Social media posts can hurt your case.

4. Contact a civil rights attorney who handles police misconduct and excessive force cases.

How Smolen Law Can Help

Don Smolen and the attorneys at Smolen Law | The Alpha Firm have a long record of holding law enforcement accountable. They represent victims of excessive force, wrongful arrests, and constitutional violations throughout Oklahoma and beyond.

If you or someone you know has been harmed by police violence, you don’t have to face it alone. Smolen Law fights for justice and for change.