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The Los Angeles Police Department has been hit with a wrongful death lawsuit after an officer was ‘beaten to death’ in a training exercise meant to ‘simulate a mob attack’.
Officer Houston Tipping was ‘repeatedly struck in the head severely enough that he bled’ during a training activity, a lawsuit filed by his mother, Shirley Huffman, alleges.
Tipping, 32, was left with multiple breaks in his neck and suffered a ‘catastrophic spinal injury’ which caused his death, the suit claims. The five-year LAPD veteran also obtained multiple injuries that required stitches.
The department said Tipping was injured while ‘grappling’ with another officer and referred to his death as a ‘horrible accident.’ No one has been arrested or charged over his death.
Tipping was laid to rest last Wednesday during a funeral attended by the LAPD police chief Michel Moore, department leaders and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Huffman filed the complaint against the city on Friday, just two days after Tipping’s funeral, alleging wrongful death, assault and battery and civil rights violations.
Officer Houston Tipping (center) was ‘repeatedly struck in the head severely enough that he bled’ during a training activity, a lawsuit filed by his mother, Shirley Huffman (right), alleges in her wrongful death lawsuit against the LAPD
LAPD has been hit with a wrongful death lawsuit Friday after five-year veteran Officer Houston Tipping was ‘beaten to death’ last month in a training exercise meant to ‘simulate a mob’
Officer Houston Tipping was ‘repeatedly struck in the head severely enough that he bled’ during the training activity. He was left with multiple breaks in his neck and suffered a ‘catastrophic spinal injury’ which caused his death, the suit claims. LAPD officers are pictured carrying his casket during his funeral last Wednesday
Huffman claims the training exercise that led to her son’s death ‘had already been questioned’ before he got hurt because of injuries suffered by other officers.
Her attorney, Bradley Gage, told DailyMaily.com on Sunday: ‘We believe Houston was intentionally attacked. He was tackled. There was not a certified arrest and control instructor. Having such an instructor is vital, to protect the safety of the participants and to avoid officers getting out of control to constitute a battery.
‘The training scenario was not properly set up. There were not proper matts to protect the officers. There was supposed to be an external defibralator with individuals who knew how to operate it. The trainers did not even know where the defibralator was, much less how to operate it properly. Having a properly working defibrolator would have helped keep the heart pumping to provide vital oxygen necessary to avoid the brain damage that Houston also suffered from after his spinal injuries. Houston’s heart stopped.’
LAPD, which declined to detail the 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’re all saddened by his loss,’ LAPD spokeswoman Capt. Kelly Muniz told the newspaper on Friday.
Huffman’s suit 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.’
‘You may ask, what does the family hope to gain with this lawsuit? I will tell you,’ Gage told DailyMail.com.’ They want answers, and they want reform. Safety needs to be improved and officers need to be protected from malicious attacks.
‘They want justice and they want peace. What they really want – they won’t get. They want Houston back.’
LAPD did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
LAPD officials claim Tipping fell to the ground during the training at the department’s Elysian Park Academy on May 26
The department said Tipping (left) was injured while ‘grappling’ with an other officer and referred to his death as a ‘horrible accident’
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders stand at attention as the family of LAPD Officer Houston Tipping arrive at his memorial service on Wednesday
LAPD officials claim Tipping fell to the ground during the training at the department’s Elysian Park Academy on May 26.
Officers immediately began CPR, contacted Los Angeles Fire Department crews and Tipping was transported to the USC Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries three days later.
His family, colleagues and loved ones attended a funeral honoring his life on Wednesday.
During the funeral LAPD Chief Michel Moore knelt before Tipping’s parents and presented them with an American flag.
The chief called Tipping impressive to his peers and said he had a ‘willingness to go the extra mile to make the world a better place.’
Huffman, referenced Moore’s remarks in her lawsuit, and alleged that despite the praise it ‘wasn’t enough to avoid other officers paralyzing him and eventually killing him in violation of law, and his civil rights.’
Tipping patrolled around the Devonshire neighborhood and ‘loved 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 help ‘save other lives.’
Tipping is survived by his parents, Richard and Shirley; his stepfather Bob; siblings Kat and Tyler; and his girlfriend, Britney.
Tipping, right, patrolled the Devonshire neighborhood of the City of Angels and was a bike instructor who reportedly ‘loved serving 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
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