According to Rolando v. del Carmen, what are major sources of police legal liability?

• A. Civil liabilities
• B. Criminal liabilities
• C. Moral liabilities
• D. Administrative liabilities

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is that police accountability mainly comes through three legal pathways: civil, criminal, and administrative liabilities. In Rolando v. del Carmen, the court treats these as the primary avenues through which police actions can be challenged and sanctioned.

Civil liability arises when police conduct injures someone or infringes rights, leading to a lawsuit for damages. This doesn’t require intent to harm; it focuses on fault and harm, with potential compensation to the injured party and the possibility that the department or municipality bears responsibility for the officer’s wrongs.

Criminal liability occurs when police wrongdoing meets the elements of a crime. If an officer commits acts like illegal detention, assault, falsification, or other criminal behavior in the course of duty, they can be charged and prosecuted in criminal court, independent of any civil action.

Administrative liability is about violations of police rules, regulations, or departmental procedures. Through internal disciplinary processes, an officer can face sanctions such as suspension, demotion, or dismissal, and these actions do not require proving civil or criminal fault in court.

Moral liability isn’t a recognized legal category for pursuing formal accountability in this context; legal claims hinge on civil, criminal, or administrative grounds.