DENVER (AP) — A police recruit who had to have both of his legs amputated after losing consciousness and repeatedly collapsing during fight training at Denver’s police academy is suing those who allegedly forced him to continue the “barbaric hazing ritual” after paramedics ignored warning signs.

Victor Moses, 29, alleges in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that aggressive officers knocked him down multiple times in the second round of “fight day” last year, with one of them shoving him off the mat and causing him to hit his head on the floor. He said he was pressured to continue, with officers picking him up and setting him back on his feet, before paramedics standing by were asked to check him out, the lawsuit said.

Moses told them he had the sickle cell trait, which puts him at an increased risk of medical complications from high-intensity exercise. He also said he had very low blood pressure and complained that his legs were cramping, according to the lawsuit. The symptoms are danger signs for people with his condition.

Nevertheless, paramedics cleared Moses to return to training, which the suit alleges was a decision made to support the police.

  • elbucho@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    For a group that wants to distance itself from gangs, it sure doesn’t help their case when they jump in new recruits.

      • elbucho@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        I mean, every piece of copaganda is like: “look, see? We’re just your friendly, neighborhood guys! We like playing basketball with black kids! Isn’t that cool??”

        I don’t know that they specifically had a campaign that said: “we’re not a gang”, but that’s kind of the subtext of all of the PR they do.