PC 243(b) Battery on a Police Officer. San Diego criminal defense Attorney Lawyer Mark Deniz explains how to examine and potentially get the charges dismissed or reduced
While I believe that there are good, honest police officers, unfortunately, there are those officers that are not trustworthy and who will lie or exaggerate circumstances in order to make their case. Because I know this to be true, there are situations where I may make a motion to the court to order the police department to turn over a copy of that particular police officer’s personnel records. These records can reveal information that the officer has had several complaints of excessive force or lying and/or exaggerating the truth. When a police officer gets up on the witness stand, in his uniform, and gives a statement about what happened, it is human nature to believe the officer. So if I believe that a particular officer is lying or exaggerating the truth, getting a copy of his personnel file becomes very important.