US FederalCan I sue a city if its police use excessive force against me?
Yes, you can sue a city under federal law if its police officers use excessive force against you, because that violates your constitutional rights and cities can be held liable for unconstitutional policies or customs.
What the Law Says
Federal law allows individuals to sue state and local government officials—including police officers and their employing cities—for violating constitutional rights.
Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, anyone acting 'under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage' of a state or local government who deprives another person of rights secured by the Constitution or federal laws can be sued in federal court.
Excessive force by police is analyzed under the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable seizures. Courts ask whether the force used was 'objectively reasonable' given the facts and circumstances confronting the officer.
A city itself—not just the individual officer—can be held liable under § 1983, but only if the violation resulted from an official policy, a widespread custom, or a failure to train that amounts to deliberate indifference.
Statutory TextEvery person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress...
— 42 U.S.C. § 1983 — Civil action for deprivation of rights
What to Do
Document everything: get medical records, photos, witness contact info, and bodycam footage if available.
File a formal complaint with the police department’s internal affairs unit (though this is not required to sue).
Consult a civil rights attorney promptly — statutes of limitations vary by state (often 2 years from the incident).
File a federal lawsuit naming both the officer(s) and the city — alleging both individual liability and municipal liability under § 1983.
Prove the city’s liability by showing a pattern of similar incidents, inadequate training, or an official policy that led to the violation.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.