Police recruit files lawsuit after ‘barbaric hazing ritual’ leads to amputation of his both legs

A harrowing incident at the Denver Police Academy has led to a lawsuit by a former recruit, Victor Moses, who claims that a “barbaric hazing ritual” called “Fight Day” left him with life-altering injuries, resulting in the amputation of his legs.

The 29-year-old, who had aspired to join the force, now finds himself relearning to walk with prosthetics and depending on others for basic daily activities. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, details his permanent physical and mental suffering

Moses’s lawsuit paints a grim picture of the “Fight Day” event held on January 6, 2023. While officially labeled as arrest and seizure training, the lawsuit alleges it devolves into a violent hazing ritual. The event forces recruits to undergo a series of physically punishing drills, culminating in violent encounters with staff.

The ordeal began when Moses, already fatigued from Station 1, moved to the Baton Endurance Drill at Station 2. Here, recruits are battered by staff wielding large padded bags. Moses was repeatedly knocked down and even thrown off a mat, striking his head on the hard floor. Despite collapsing and losing consciousness multiple times, Moses was propped up and urged to continue by the academy’s technicians.

Paramedics were called when it became clear Moses couldn’t stand. Despite his complaints of extreme fatigue and leg cramps—symptoms exacerbated by his sickle cell trait—the paramedics inexplicably cleared him to proceed.

At Station 3, a drill where recruits are expected to fend off a mounted officer, Moses could barely participate. He was struck in the head several times before gasping, “I can’t breathe,” and becoming unresponsive. Moses’s situation worsened at the hospital, where he remained unconscious and near death for four months.

The lawsuit claims that Denver police and paramedics misled the medical team about the cause of his injuries, falsely denying any direct trauma. As a result, Moses underwent multiple surgeries, and both of his legs were amputated below the knee.

The physical and psychological toll on Moses has been immense. He describes daily struggles with prosthetics that cause pain and bleeding, posing constant risks of infection.

“It is extremely hard to find the will to keep living,” Moses stated in court documents. “Saying my life has been ruined is a complete understatement. I had everything going for me in life and it was all taken away.”

The lawsuit, seeking an undisclosed amount in damages, names the City and County of Denver, seven technicians, four officers from the Denver Police Department and two paramedics from Denver Health and Hospital Authority. Both institutions have declined to comment due to the pending litigation, though Denver Health emphasized its commitment to safety and well-being.

Moses’s attorney, John Holland, condemned the “Fight Day” practice, arguing it fosters brutality within the police force. “If this had been a football game or boxing match, the head injury and losses of consciousness would have ended any continued participation or fighting immediately,” Holland said.

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This lawsuit not only brings to light Moses’s personal tragedy but also raises serious questions about the training practices and culture within the Denver Police Department.