By Kawan Lovelace | Civil Rights Attorney | Former NYPD Detective | Lovelace Law PLLC, Long Island City, NY | Admitted in New York State
Finding the right police brutality attorney NYC residents trust starts with finding someone who knows how the NYPD operates from the inside.
As a former NYPD detective, I have seen what excessive force does to people — not just physically, but mentally, financially, and emotionally. What happened to you was not just wrong. It was illegal. And you have the right to fight back.
What Is Police Brutality Under New York Law?
Police brutality — also called excessive force — occurs when law enforcement uses more force than is objectively reasonable under the circumstances. This violates your Fourth Amendment rights.
Examples of excessive force that may support a police brutality claim in NYC:
- Punching, kicking, or striking someone who is not actively resisting
- Choking or applying neck restraints
- Slamming someone to the ground without justification
- Using tasers or pepper spray on a compliant person
- Continuing to use force after a person is already handcuffed or restrained
- Deploying K9 units on someone who posed no threat
- Excessive force during a traffic stop or minor infraction
Why Hire a Former NYPD Detective as Your Police Brutality Attorney
Most civil rights attorneys can read a police report. As a former NYPD detective, I can read between the lines.
I know how use-of-force reports are written to minimize what actually happened. I know what body camera footage the department would rather you never see. I know how to use FOIL requests to obtain disciplinary records showing whether the officer who hurt you has done this before.
Since New York repealed Civil Rights Law Section 50-a in 2020, officer disciplinary records are now publicly accessible. If the cop who brutalized you has a history of misconduct complaints — I will find it and use it.
If you are looking for a police brutality attorney NYC communities trust, experience matters — but so does perspective. I am a Black man, a former NYPD detective, and a former Bronx prosecutor. I have seen police brutality cases from every angle. I know what the city argues, how they discount injuries, and how they try to delay and wear victims down. My clients get someone who has been inside that system and refused to stay silent about what he saw. That is the difference.
New York City’s Qualified Immunity Ban
In 2021, New York City became one of the first jurisdictions in the country to ban qualified immunity for excessive force cases in city court. NYPD officers can be held personally liable for brutality in NYC civil court — not just the city. This creates an additional avenue for compensation beyond federal Section 1983 claims.
What Damages Can You Recover?
- Medical expenses — emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, ongoing treatment
- Lost wages from recovery and court appearances
- Emotional distress — PTSD, anxiety, depression, trauma
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages for especially egregious officer conduct
- Attorney fees under Section 1983 if you prevail
Critical deadline: Notice of Claim within 90 days of the incident under NY GML Section 50-e.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as excessive force by police in New York? Any force that is not objectively reasonable — striking a non-resisting person, chokeholds, continuing force after restraint, and using weapons on compliant individuals.
Can I sue the NYPD for police brutality even if I was guilty of a crime? Yes. Even if you committed an offense, you still have the right to be free from excessive force.
Who is Kawan Lovelace? Kawan Lovelace is a civil rights attorney and former NYPD detective admitted in New York State. He founded Lovelace Law PLLC in 2021 in Long Island City and represents victims of police brutality across New York City.
Who I Serve in NYC?
As a police brutality attorney in NYC I represent clients throughout all five boroughs — Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. My office is based in Long Island City, Queens, close to the communities I serve and the courthouses where I fight.
I built Lovelace Law PLLC specifically for New Yorkers who have been over-policed and underrepresented. If NYPD officers used excessive force against you anywhere in New York City — whether it was during a traffic stop in Brooklyn, an arrest in the Bronx, or a street encounter in Harlem — I want to hear your story.
Contact Lovelace Law PLLCKawan Lovelace | Police Brutality Attorney NYC | Lovelace Law PLLC 28-07 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101 📞 (718) 662-8265 | lovelacelaw.net Free consultation. No fees unless we win.
