In recent years, cases of police misconduct have increasingly captured public attention and outcry, from the tragic deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. These high-profile incidents have sparked a national conversation about police accountability and civil rights. In response to the growing public consciousness, few attorneys have made as significant an impact as Sarah Schielke, whose innovative approach is reshaping the field of civil rights litigation.
Sarah Schielke’s journey into civil rights law began with her work in criminal defense. Witnessing firsthand the injustices and misconduct in the criminal justice system, she found herself drawn to civil rights cases. “With the civil rights work, and especially the way I do it with the broader, bringing public attention to it, it’s an opportunity to make a much bigger difference, one case at a time,” Schielke explains.
Schielke’s stance comes as no surprise, given her history. Unlike many of her peers who joined established firms, she chose to forge her own path. “I didn’t work under anybody. I came up with how to do this all myself,” she says. This independence has allowed her to develop unique strategies that set her apart in the field.
The Power of Video in Civil Rights Cases
At the heart of Sarah Schielke’s strategy is her innovative use of body camera footage and other video evidence — and posting it online. “My thought in terms of trying to get more attention to my cases early on was that I would create a YouTube channel,” Schielke shares. By releasing edited versions of body cam footage alongside her lawsuits, Schielke brings public attention to cases of police misconduct in a way that’s both accessible and impactful.
This approach paid off dramatically in the devastating case of Karen Garner, a 73-year-old woman with dementia who was forcefully arrested by police in Loveland, Colorado. Schielke’s release of the body cam footage, along with a later video showing officers laughing about the incident, led to national outrage and swift action against the officers involved.
“I could not have predicted in a million years how crazily things happened with Karen Garner,” Schielke recalls. “I sent out the press release to my local and state and a handful of national contacts, and I typically do it in the morning because I want East Coast editors and other people to just see that before they have their morning meeting. It’s two hours of not much happening. And then I just pull up the analytics on the video and I was like, this is crazy. Kind of couldn’t even believe it.
“What I had underestimated in Karen’s case … is how much that would affect and trigger people who are affected by that because what they saw these officers doing to Karen, and they saw what was happening with her, they saw their own parents and grandparents in it and were disgusted as they should be.”
Thanks at least in part to Schielke’s bold moves, the elderly victim was awarded compensation and some of the offending officers faced jail time, with one receiving prison time.
Sarah Schielke: Connecting to a Broader Movement
Schielke’s work is part of a larger trend in civil rights litigation that emphasizes transparency and public engagement. This approach has been seen in other high-profile cases, such as the work of civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump in the George Floyd case, where the release of bystander video footage played a crucial role in galvanizing public opinion.
The growing public consciousness around police misconduct has also led to legislative changes. In Colorado, where Schielke practices, the state has passed sweeping police reform laws, including the elimination of qualified immunity as a defense in state courts. Schielke’s work has contributed to this momentum for change.
Still, Schielke isn’t resting on her laurels. She is currently challenging the common practice of mediation in civil rights cases, stating, “The practice of mediation in these cases is set up to get the insurance companies discounts. I am not a fan of it.”
And, Schielke is working to dispel misconceptions about who pays for settlements in police misconduct cases. “The taxpayers are never paying for it,” she clarifies, explaining that these settlements are typically covered by insurance companies. By challenging this narrative, Schielke aims to remove barriers to justice for victims of police misconduct.
Advocating for Systemic Change
While individual cases are important, Sarah Schielke’s ultimate goal is systemic change in law enforcement practices. She’s particularly focused on addressing the incentives that can lead to police misconduct, such as awards for DUI arrests regardless of their validity.
“There’s agencies getting grant money, there’s officers getting awards and trophies, there’s all of these perverse incentives that are set up that incentivize arresting people for DUIs without a care in the world for whether those people turn out to be innocent,” Schielke explains.
Her efforts are already showing results. In response to multiple wrongful DUI arrest lawsuits filed by Schielke, Fort Collins Police Services has reportedly changed their policies to require automatic review of cases where blood tests come back negative for drugs or alcohol.
The Importance of Uncompromising Advocacy
Central to Schielke’s practice is her rejection of fear-based decision-making. “I don’t do anything fear-based in my practice. I don’t find that that produces good outcomes,” she asserts.
Her ultimate vision is a fundamental shift in how police departments approach their work. “I think if you’re a police officer, arresting an innocent person should be the most terrifying prospect and the most catastrophic outcome you could ever be responsible for,” she states.
By bringing cases of police misconduct into the public eye and pushing for meaningful reforms, Schielke is working to create a more just and accountable approach to policing. As her influence grows, it promises to transform the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve for years to come.
