Victor Moses, a former recruit for the Denver police department, is suing the department, stating that he lost both of his legs as a result of the “violent recruit hazing ritual” at the police academy. According to a statement cited by People, Moses lamented that his life had been “turned upside down” following the tragic incident.
He recounted, “I was a healthy, athletic, energetic person looking forward to an honest career in law enforcement. Now I am picking up the pieces and coming to grips with a lifetime of disabilities. I have no idea what my future holds now.”
The 29-year-old indicated in his civil lawsuit that he was made to participate in “Fight Day” training, which required “recruits to do scenario-based drills related to arrest, arrest control, overcoming resistance, self-defense, rendering aid and follow-up techniques.”
RELATED STORIES
The lawsuit further claimed that the four-stage event has turned “barbaric” by forcing recruits to”endure extreme exertion while being subjected to a series of violent assaults,” as reported by the Associated Press, rather than offering that “necessary” training for recruits. Moses said that despite disclosing his sickle cell trait to authorities on a police application, he was allegedly attacked on several occasions by policemen from the Denver Police Department while paramedics from the Denver Health and Hospital Authority “watched, tolerated and enabled the officers.”
According to the complaint, Moses’ head was “slammed onto a tile floor” while his blood pressure dropped. Moreover, he “repeatedly collapsed and lost consciousness,” the lawsuit stated, adding that he “reported experiencing extreme cramping and fatigue, and was so incapacitated he could not stand up or walk even with assistance.”
“He was pressured by police and cleared by paramedics to endure even more assaults, until he was finally transported to the hospital unconscious, facing death,” the suit alleged.
After that, Moses spent the following four months in the hospital where he “underwent numerous surgical and medical procedures, including multiple fasciotomies and extensive dialysis,” ultimately losing both of his legs below the knee.
While Denver Health and the Denver Police informed People that they could not comment on ongoing legal matters, Denver Health did say that “safety and well-being is a top priority for Denver Health and its paramedics.”
Moses is not only suing Denver police and Denver Health but also the city, Denver County, police officers and employees, and two paramedics from Denver Health for lying to hospital doctors about the severity of his condition.
The lawsuit also includes text messages from recruits who claim to have witnessed Moses being attacked. Recruit Officer Parker Anderson allegedly said, “Every strike from that point, I watched him collapse. I watched Moses collapse 3-4 times before he eventually did not get back up.”
Moses said in the statement, “I could not believe how aggressive and violent these trainers were. It’s like they were angry and trying to hurt us. Several recruits, not just me, were hurt during the Fight Day drills. This didn’t teach us anything about being a good police officer; it was pure brutality.”
