Opinion ID: 778006
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Officer Paulukonis' Duty to Intervene

Text: 40 As noted earlier, Smith does not allege that Paulukonis took part in the beating. Rather, Smith claims that Paulukonis can be liable under the Eighth Amendment if he failed to intervene. We agree. We hold that a corrections officer's failure to intervene in a beating can be the basis of liability for an Eighth Amendment violation under § 1983 if the corrections officer had a reasonable opportunity to intervene and simply refused to do so. Furthermore, we hold that a corrections officer can not escape liability by relying upon his inferior or non-supervisory rank vis-a-vis the other officers. 41 Courts have held that a police officer has a duty to take reasonable steps to protect a victim from another officer's use of excessive force, even if the excessive force is employed by a superior. If a police officer, whether supervisory or not, fails or refuses to intervene when a constitutional violation such as an unprovoked beating takes place in his presence, the officer is directly liable under Section 1983. Byrd v. Clark, 783 F.2d 1002, 1007 (11th Cir.1986); accord Putman v. Gerloff, 639 F.2d 415, 423 (8th Cir.1981); Byrd v. Brishke, 466 F.2d 6, 11 (7th Cir.1972). However, an officer is only liable if there is a realistic and reasonable opportunity to intervene. See Clark, 783 F.2d at 1007 (instructing the district court upon remand to determine whether the officer was in a position to intervene); Brishke, 466 F.2d at 11 (liability for failure to intervene exists only if the beating occurred in the officer's presence or was otherwise within his knowledge); Putman, 639 F.2d at 423-24 (liability exists only if the non-intervening officer saw the beating or had time to reach the offending officer). 42 In Baker v. Monroe Township, 50 F.3d 1186 (3d Cir.1995), we held that a police officer who was the senior officer involved in executing a search warrant could be liable in a suit under § 1983 even though he did not personally use excessive force, nor direct anyone else to. We concluded that there [was] sufficient evidence to permit an inference that [the officer] knew of and acquiesced in the treatment the [plaintiffs] were receiving at the hands of the other officers acting under his supervision. Baker, 50 F.3d at 1193. The specific circumstances in Baker required us to determine if the plaintiff had shown that the senior officer had actual knowledge and acquiescence. Id. at 1194, quoting Rode v. Dellarciprete, 845 F.2d 1195, 1207 (3d Cir.1988). Although the specific context of our analysis only involved an officer's liability for the actions of police officers under his supervision, we do not interpret Baker as suggesting that liability for failure to intervene is solely limited to supervisors or officers who out-rank their offending colleagues. 43 The duty to uphold the law does not turn upon an officer's rank. It is neither affected by, nor proportional to, a non-intervening officer's relationship to an offending colleague. The approving silence emanating from the officer who stands by and watches as others unleash an unjustified assault contributes to the actual use of excessive force, and we cannot ignore the tacit support such silence lends to those who are actually striking the blows. Such silence is an endorsement of the constitutional violation resulting from the illegal use of force. 6 It is incompatible with the restrictions imposed under the Eighth Amendment, and is therefore unacceptable. We will not immunize such conduct by suggesting that an officer can silently contribute to such a constitutional violation and escape responsibility for it. The restriction on cruel and unusual punishment contained in the Eighth Amendment reaches non-intervention just as readily as it reaches the more demonstrable brutality of those who unjustifiably and excessively employ fists, boots or clubs. 44 Although our case law refers to police officers, not corrections officers, this does not change our analysis. 7 Both are law enforcement officers, both are sworn to uphold the law, and both are authorized to use force (even deadly force) toward that end. We are, of course, aware of the obvious security concerns inside the close confines of a prison. However, that is simply one factor that must be considered in determining if a particular application of force is reasonable. It does not suggest a different Eighth Amendment inquiry for corrections officers as opposed to police officers. The law does not allow either to condone or cover up the use of excessive force. Similarly, neither can escape liability by turning either a blind eye or deaf ear to the illegal conduct of their colleagues. 45 Therefore, if [Smith] can show at trial that an officer attacked him while [Paulukonis] ignored a realistic opportunity to intervene, he can recover. Miller v. Smith, 220 F.3d 491, 495 (7th Cir.2000). Moreover, neither rank nor supervisory status is a factor in assessing whether Paulukonis had a realistic opportunity to intervene. Id. 8 46 There is some evidence that Paulukonis witnessed the beating that his fellow officers allegedly administered to Smith. Smith alleges that Paulukonis stated in his misconduct report that [t]he minimum amount of force was used to place inmate Smith onto the floor. App. at 329. This appears to be based upon first-hand observations Paulukonis made while standing at the door of the Unit Manager's office during the incident. Smith further testified that the door of the office remained open throughout the incident and that Paulukonis saw the beating. A fact finder could conclude that Paulukonis knew that his fellow officers were using excessive force against Smith, had an opportunity to intervene, but refused to do so. Accordingly, the district court erred in dismissing Smith's Eighth Amendment claim against Paulukonis.