Fort Lauderdale Police officer shot woman with a rubber bullet. Now, she’ll get $1.9M
LaToya Ratlieff’s life was changed forever four and half years ago when Fort Lauderdale Police Department shot her with a rubber bullet during a peaceful protest over George Floyd’s murder. On Tuesday, after years of legal battles, a $1.9 million settlement was approved.
The Fort Lauderdale City Commission finalized the approval of the $1,975,000 settlement Tuesday night during a public meeting. The decision passed unanimously, with Mayor Dean Trantalis sharing the city’s eagerness for the lawsuit to be concluded and behind them.
On May 31, 2020, police unleashed tear gas and rubber bullets at hundreds of people who were demanding justice for George Floyd. Ratliff was among them and was shot; the rubber bullet fractured her eye socket.
Two years later, Ratlieff filed a federal civil rights lawsuit that was eventually weaved into a class action lawsuit against the City of Fort Lauderdale and the police department that harmed her.
From the beginning, she urged that her goal was to seek change within Fort Lauderdale police so no one else is treated as she was. That wish was granted with the approval of the settlement.
Apart from the lump sum of cash, the department also agreed to adopt new policies that would ensure another incident like this does not occur.
“My life has changed dramatically since the protest,” Ratlieff said in a statement. “What I once considered as normal is now replaced with ongoing trauma and disability. Throughout this process, there were moments when, both mentally and physically, I was ready to give up. But I tried to focus on the fact that this was important, not just for me but for everyone who seeks to use their voice to create meaningful change.”
Ratlieff also noted that Commissioner Ben Sorensen had remained the only person from the City of Fort Lauderdale to apologize to her.
“After 1,647 days, I close this chapter and begin the process of moving forward,” she said. “But for others, this is just the beginning. I stand ready to support other victims in seeking justice through the pending class action suit. Just as so many members of the community extended their support to me during this challenging time, I encourage you to support them, too, as this journey can be both difficult and isolating.”
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