One of the unfortunate realities of our lives is that those we entrust to protect us can be as, if not more susceptible to corruption as us. As a result, cases of police misconduct occur far too frequently. If you find yourself the victim of police misconduct, you face an uphill battle when you don’t have quality legal representation. Lawyers with experience fighting these cases can guide you to victory against the institutional forces facing you in police misconduct cases.
For an example of one of these cases, consider a recent article for the Miami Herald titled “South Miami cop arrested on charges of misconduct with minors.” David Ovalle of the Miami Herald writes, “For years, South Miami Police Detective Joseph Mendez had been lauded for his work with the department’s Explorer program, which introduces students into the world of law enforcement. But state agents say Mendez, 47, got too close to the cadets – trying to seduce underage Explorer girls by providing them booze. And when the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators seized his smartphone, they found what they say was an array of photos of underage girls, some of them having sex, according to an arrest warrant released Tuesday. Agents on Tuesday arrested Mendez, charging him with 10 counts of charges related to the photos found on his smartphone, and four violations of giving the liquor to underage girls. Through his lawyer, Mendez insisted he was innocent of the allegations. ‘He has denied it from day one,’ said defense lawyer Douglas Hartman. Mendez is a longtime South Miami police officer who spent time detached to a Drug Enforcement Administration task force. He is the son of Joe Mendez, a former Hialeah police officer who later became part of a multiagency federal task force known as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.”
The Law Offices of Gilbert & Smallman handles criminal cases of all types. If you or someone you care about was the victim of, or has been accused of a crime, contact us today. Free consultations available 24/7 by phone! Our offices conveniently are located in Miami, North Miami, Hollywood and Tallahassee. At Gilbert & Smallman we pride ourselves on service to our clients. Contact us today for your free one on one consult with one of our experienced criminal law partners.
