Barbaric Police Hazing Leaves Trainee Officer Legless – Where’s the Justice?!

In a tragic incident, 29-year-old police recruit Victor Moses lost both of his legs following what he describes as a “barbaric hazing ritual” during police training. Despite the life-altering injuries, Moses maintains his support for law enforcement, even as he battles the emotional and physical aftermath of the incident.

Moses filed a lawsuit last month against the City of Denver, along with 13 police officers and paramedics, after the training, referred to as “fight day,” resulted in his double amputation. His lawsuit claims that this violent training exercise directly led to the devastating outcome.

Recalling the harrowing experience, Moses described the event as a “living hell,” a situation that forced him into multiple surgeries and a lengthy four-month hospital stay. “I felt something I’ve never felt before,” he said in an interview with USA Today. “It’s really hard to explain, like, how it feels like to die, and I’ve never had that, but I felt what death feels like.”

Despite the ordeal, Moses remains resolute in his admiration for law enforcement. He expressed his unwavering support for police officers, acknowledging that his own life was irrevocably changed. “Yes, my life was ruined, I was turned permanently disabled. But it doesn’t negate the fact that there are a lot of good cops out there,” he said. Moses’s commitment to the values of law enforcement has not been shaken, despite his personal tragedy.

The lawsuit paints a disturbing picture of the events that unfolded on January 6, 2023, during training. Moses was repeatedly knocked to the ground and shoved off the mat, suffering head injuries that eventually led to his loss of consciousness. Despite these alarming signs, he was pushed to continue. On-site paramedics cleared him to proceed, even though it was clear he was unable to stand or walk without assistance.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, Moses has the sickle cell trait, which made him particularly vulnerable to symptoms like low blood pressure and severe leg cramps during strenuous activities. His legal team argues that proper medical attention was not given to him. They pointed out that if this had been a sports event, like a football game or boxing match, the head injury and collapse would have immediately disqualified him from further participation. The lack of care in Moses’s case reflects, they claim, a deeper issue within the culture of police training.

The lawsuit also highlights the brutal nature of the training practices. Recruits were reportedly required to punch dummies, use padded batons, and engage in wrestling matches, all part of a rite of passage to prove their toughness. Moses was not the first to be injured; other recruits had previously suffered broken noses and other injuries during similar drills. His lawyers, John Holland and Darold Killmer, argue that this violent culture encourages excessive force, which not only harms recruits but also leads to a more aggressive and costly police force. “Fight Day encourages brutality and indifference to the injuries they inflict,” said Holland, one of Moses’s attorneys.

Both the Denver Police Department and Denver Health, which employed the paramedics, have declined to comment due to the ongoing litigation. However, Denver Health did emphasize that the “safety and well-being” of their patients is a top priority.

Victor Moses’s story is one of profound loss but also of remarkable resilience. Despite facing a future without his legs, he continues to stand by the principles of law enforcement, while also seeking justice for the ordeal he endured. His case sheds light on the potentially harmful practices within police training and raises serious questions about the balance between toughness and safety in preparing future officers.