These cases were difficult to resolve because the police officer, as the
alleged victim, was given the power to approve or reject a plea offer.
This literally meant that an accused person who was otherwise eligible
for Pretrial Intervention would be offered probation or even jail, simply
because the disgruntled cop said so.
Personally, I hated this policy when I was a prosecutor, and I hate it
even more now that I am a
criminal defense attorney. That is why it is so important to retain a qualified criminal defense
lawyer who is familiar with crimes against law enforcement officers in
Broward and Miami-Dade. These cases are not always resolved easily, but
may require thorough investigation in order to expose weaknesses in the
State's case.
Crimes against law enforcement officers can be
misdemeanors or
violent felonies. Some misdemeanor crimes where police are the alleged victims may include
Resisting an Officer Without Violence, or Assault on a Police Officer.
Some of the felony crimes against police officers include Battery on a
Law Enforcement Officer (LEO), Aggravated Assault on a LEO, and Attempted
Murder of a LEO.
To demonstrate how serious a crime against a LEO is, the crime of battery
- which is normally a misdemeanor - automatically becomes a felony if
it is committed against a cop. Also, the crime of aggravated assault on
a LEO (an assault where a weapon is used), carries a 3-year mandatory
minimum sentence that must be waived by the State Attorney's Office.
Don't take chances if you or someone you know is charged with a crime
against a law enforcement officer. These cases are taken very seriously
by both the officers involved and the prosecutors. Let a Miami criminal
attorney assist you in your time of need.