Farmer v. City of Rapid City

KONENKAMP, Justice.

[¶ 1.] The Rapid City Police Department fired a patrol officer for excessive use of force. On appeal, the officer contends that he never acted beyond the Department’s use of force continuum policy. But the question comes down to whether the officer’s own actions generated his claimed need to use force. Considering both the subject incident along with the officer’s disciplinary record, we conclude that there were sufficient grounds to support the officer’s discharge.

Background

[¶ 2.] The Rapid City Police Department hired Officer Timothy Farmer on August 1, 2005. As a patrol…