Burlington settles excessive force lawsuit for $215K in 2018 incident

In September 2018, an incident involving Burlington police officer Joseph Corrow led to a lawsuit filed by Mabior Jok, who accused the officer of excessive force. The lawsuit claimed that Corrow grabbed Jok and slammed him to the ground without any prior warning or verbal commands, resulting in Jok losing consciousness. An internal investigation by the police department concluded that while Corrow did not call for backup or issue commands, he did not use excessive force, citing Jok's known violent history. The case lingered in litigation until a settlement was reached in late August, just before the trial was set to begin. The city of Burlington agreed to pay $215,000 to resolve the lawsuit, with $140,000 covered by the city’s insurance and $75,000 paid directly by the city. Jok's attorney, Robb Spensley, described the settlement as life-changing for his client, who has faced homelessness for several years. Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak expressed relief at reaching a resolution, emphasizing the importance of reviewing police practices whenever force is used. She highlighted the need for the police department to focus on de-escalation techniques and effective communication to prevent similar incidents in the future. This settlement reflects broader concerns about police conduct and the use of force, particularly in situations involving individuals with a history of violence. The city aims to learn from this incident to improve training and policies within the police department, ensuring that such occurrences are handled with greater care and consideration in the future.