Audits

Sergeant Michael Smith – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office

Written by CBKN76

Sergeant Michael Smith was implicated in a 2017 incident where deputies allegedly ambushed and violently assaulted Ramiro Huerta after he reported suspicious activity on his property. The deputies, under Smith’s direction, reportedly turned off their body cameras and hid in the bushes to surprise Huerta. A federal civil rights lawsuit was filed against the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and several deputies, including Smith, alleging excessive force and violation of constitutional rights. The case proceeded to trial in May 2022. ([prnewswire.com](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/federal-civil-rights-trial-to-proceed-against-tulare-sheriff-office-301541324.html?utm_source=openai))

## Officer Forum Links:
– [Sergeant Michael Smith](https://watchaudits.com/forums/topic/sergeant-michael-smith/)

Forum Links

Browse California Forums Browse Tulare County Sheriff's Office Browse Sergeant Michael Smith
Posted in Audits Law Enforcement Agencies: Officer Names: States:

Welcome to Police Accountability Database

Our Mission

We're building a comprehensive database of police interactions to promote accountability and transparency in law enforcement.

How You Can Participate

  • View the Blog: Read about documented police interactions
  • Share Your Experience: Submit your own police interaction story
  • Browse the Forums: Check if your local law enforcement has been documented

Important Community Guidelines

It is strictly against our rules to:

  • Make threats of any kind
  • Share private information such as personal emails, home addresses, or phone numbers

Violation of these rules will result in immediate content removal and possible account suspension.

Why This Matters

By organizing this data, we can potentially demonstrate when officers were previously aware of laws they later claim ignorance of, challenging qualified immunity defenses and promoting accountability.