Philip Dupree, a former officer with the Fairmount Heights Police Department in Maryland, has been sentenced to 74 months in prison for violating a man's civil rights through the use of unreasonable force. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court following Dupree's conviction on June 17, 2024.
The federal jury found Dupree guilty of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered him to serve three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro commented on the case, stating, “When the defendant used unnecessary and excessive force on a man in handcuffs, he violated his duty and betrayed his oath to serve and protect.” She emphasized that the sentence is a reminder for law enforcement officers not to breach trust with their communities.
Court documents revealed that during a traffic stop on August 4, 2019, Dupree pepper-sprayed a handcuffed driver seated in his police car. This action was deemed excessive force by the jury.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon remarked on the importance of police officers upholding laws and protecting constitutional rights: “Dupree abused his authority as a police officer, and today Dupree was held accountable for his actions.”
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel from the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Howland from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
