The Los Angeles Police Department has been hit with a lawsuit over unlawful death after an officer was ‘beaten to death’ in training intended to ‘simulate a crowd attack’.
Officer Houston Tipping was “repeatedly hit hard enough in the head that he bled” during a training activity, a lawsuit filed by his mother, Shirley Huffman, alleges.
Tipping, 32, was left with multiple fractures in his neck and sustained a ‘catastrophic spinal injury’ that caused his death, the case claims. The five-year-old LAPD veteran also sustained multiple injuries that required stitches.
The department said Tipping was injured while “struggling” with another officer, referring to his death as a “horrific accident”. No one has been arrested or charged with his death.
Tipping was laid to rest last Wednesday during a funeral attended by LAPD Police Chief Michel Moore, department leaders and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Huffman filed the lawsuit against the city on Friday, just two days after Tipping’s funeral, in which he alleges he committed unlawful death, assault and abuse and civil rights violations.
Officer Houston Tipping (center) was ‘repeatedly hit hard enough in the head that he bled’ during a training activity, claims a lawsuit filed by his mother, Shirley Huffman (right), in her unlawful death case against the LAPD
LAPD sued Friday over wrongful death after five-year veteran officer Houston Tipping was ‘beaten to death’ last month in a training exercise designed to ‘simulate a crowd’
Officer Houston Tipping was “repeatedly severely beaten in the head that he bled” during the training activity. He was left with multiple fractures in his neck and suffered a ‘catastrophic spinal injury’ that caused his death, the case reads. LAPD officers are pictured carrying his coffin during his funeral last Wednesday
Huffman claims the exercise that led to her son’s death ‘was already questioned’ before he was injured due to injuries sustained by other officers.
Her lawyer, Bradley Gage, said the allegations made in the case were based on interviews with witnesses and private individuals of the situation.
LAPD, which declined to describe the nature of the exercise, told The Los Angeles Times officials are taking the “matter seriously”.
The department has launched an investigation into the incident to determine if ‘there are any changes that need to be made’ to prevent future tragedy.
“It is tragic and we are all saddened by his loss,” LAPD spokesman Capt. Kelly Muniz told the newspaper on Friday.
Huffman’s case calls for unspecified financial compensation and punitive damages from the city.
The grieving mother also wants the city to preserve all evidence in the case, including ‘videos of the entire training exercise and actions taken against Officer Tipping’.
DailyMail.com requested comments from both Huffman’s attorney and the LAPD.
LAPD officials claim that tips fell to the ground during training at the department’s Elysian Park Academy on May 26
The department said Tipping (left) was injured while ‘struggling’ with another officer and referred to his death as a ‘horrific accident’.
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders pay attention as the family of LAPD officer Houston Tipping arrives at his memorial service on Wednesday
LAPD officials claim Tipping fell to the ground during training at the department’s Elysian Park Academy on May 26.
Officers immediately began CPR, contacted Los Angeles Fire Department teams and Tipping was transported to USC Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries three days later.
His family, colleagues and loved ones attended a funeral in honor of his life on Wednesday.
During the funeral, LAPD chief Michel Moore knelt in front of Tipping’s parents and handed them an American flag.
The principal called Tipping impressive for his peers, saying he had a ‘willingness to go the extra mile to make the world a better place’.
Huffman, referring to Moore’s remarks in her lawsuit, arguing that despite the praise, ‘it was not enough to prevent other officers from paralyzing him and eventually killing him in violation of the law, and his civil rights.’
Tipping patrolled in the Devonshire neighborhood and ‘liked serving as a police officer’, according to the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which said he will be remembered ‘for how he loved and made people laugh’ .
He was also an organ donor, Moore revealed last month, and his ‘selflessness’ was used to ‘save other lives’.
Tipping is survived by his parents, Richard and Shirley; his stepfather Bob; brothers and sisters Kat and Tyler; and his girlfriend, Britney.
Tipping, on the right, patrolled the Devonshire neighborhood of the City of Angels and was a cycling instructor who allegedly ‘loved to serve as a police officer’
Tipping is survived by his girlfriend, Britney (pictured) as well as his parents Richard and Shirley; his stepfather Bob; and siblings Kat and Tyler