Nationwide — Victor Moses, a 29-year-old African American police recruit, has filed a lawsuit against the Denver Police Department. The suit claims that Moses lost both his legs due to harsh training practices and negligence from the paramedics.In the lawsuit, Moses says that during a fight training exercise last year, officers repeatedly knocked him down. In one instance, one officer reportedly shoved him off the mat, causing him to hit his head on the floor, according to KDVR.
Despite his warnings about his sickle cell trait and symptoms like cramping and low blood pressure, which indicated serious risk, Moses was forced to continue the training. Paramedics were present but cleared him to keep going.
Moses argues that the training, which is meant to prepare recruits for real-life scenarios, is excessively violent and akin to a “barbaric hazing ritual.” The lawsuit also notes that other recruits had been injured in similar exercises.
The Denver Police Department and related agencies have not commented on the ongoing litigation. However, Ian Adams, a criminology professor, notes that while such training is common in the U.S., it sometimes leads to serious injuries or even death, often due to pre-existing medical conditions.
Moses’ legal team, John Holland and Darold Killmer, argue that the training culture promotes excessive force and has led to costly lawsuits for the city. They also claim that Moses was essentially incapacitated during the training and was a victim of excessive force.
Now, Moses is adjusting to life with prosthetics and dealing with severe phantom pain. He reflects on how his career and life changed dramatically due to the training.
“I more than likely could still have my legs. I more than likely could still have my sanity. I could have been a police officer had you just not hazed us,” Moses said.