A Settlement of $187,500 is being paid to a Woman in Oklahoma City over a Claim an Off-Duty Officer used Excessive Force Against Her
A settlement of $187,500 is being paid to 38-year-old Vielka Lippe, who filed an excessive force lawsuit against an off-duty police officer with the Oklahoma City Police Department. According to Lippe, the off-duty officer pointed a gun at her and allegedly threatened to kill her in a late-night encounter on February 1, 2014.
Lippe and the police officer involved lived in the same neighborhood when the incident in question occurred. Lippe had made arrangements to borrow a humidifier from a neighbor because she had a sick child. When she got to the neighbor’s home, she grabbed the humidifier and quickly went back to her car with it. The off-duty officer was wearing a hoodie, flip-flips, and shorts, and he thought he was witness to a crime. He approached Lippe’s vehicle with his gun drawn. He allegedly yelled incomprehensible commands, and Lippe thought he might be a deranged individual and an immediate threat to her well-being.
According to the lawsuit, she heard the officer yell that he is a cop, but she didn’t know whether it was a legitimate claim. As the officer moved toward the driver’s side window, Lippe accelerated. Both say the firearm entered her open window. However, the officer said the side mirror struck him, causing him to spin, and that’s when the gun went inside the window. Lippe claims he put his gun into her car, struck her on the head, and yelled that he was going to kill her. Lippe lost control of her vehicle and struck a curb. The off-duty officer then left the scene.
The officer was placed on administrative leave after the encounter with Lippe. He is currently a sergeant. In a court document, it reflects that the officer told the judge he believes he is a police officer 24 hours a day.
Lippe hopes others will overcome their fears and fight against this type of law enforcement behavior.
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