Sacramento Deputy Sued Three Times For Using Flashlight As Weapon

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A Sacramento County Sheriff's deputy who has been accused of using excessive force several times since 2008 is still on the job.

Deputy Paul Pfeifer has been sued three times for using his flashlight as a weapon.

Cellphone video taken by a witness in December 2014 shows the deputy strike a man multiple times.

The deputy then uses his foot to pin the man's head to the ground.

The deputy's actions were justified, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

"The officers also have to take into account their safety and the safety of the public," said Sgt. Tony Turnbull, a spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

The incident from December 2014 is only one of several complaints filed against Deputy Pfeifer.

In 2008, the deputy allegedly tackled and hit a woman on the legs with his flashlight.

In September 2014, Pfeiffer allegedly beat a man after pulling him over on suspicion of driving a stolen car.

Two cases were settled out of court by the sheriff's department the case from December 2014 is still pending.

Sgt. Turnbull says Deputy Pfeifer is still on duty because "there isn't enough factual basis to support any kind of punishment or firing of the deputy, that's why they remain on the job."

Alin Cintean is a Sacramento attorney who has represented law enforcement officers who have been accused of using excessive force.

"Officers are accused of using excessive force a lot. Whether that's actually warranted or not, it's hard to say. It's a case by case basis."

Cintean says there are a lot of factors that need to be considered in addition to the video, including the circumstances that surround the why the individual was stopped by the deputy, and other information the deputy may have that the general public may not know.

Sgt. Turnbull says these are all factors the department considered before it made its final decision to keep Deputy Pfeifer on the force.

Turnbull says the department frequently reviews its training policies to avoid any misconduct.