In October 1998, then-Officer John Burke was accused of using undue force while arresting a man for not following instructions. In October 2008, Burke was named as one of a group of officers who allegedly knocked down the door of Jeffrey Bitton without a warrant, throwing a stun grenade at him and his siblings before beating them. The city settled the subsequent lawsuit for $48,500. In June 2019, Burke allegedly threw Taryn Saldivar to the ground during a Pride march, resulting in a fractured wrist, a displaced hip, and a concussion. The city settled the lawsuit for $190,000. Burke is still working for the police department as of 2023.
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