Persons who may be held liable under 42 U.S.C.A. §1983 for violating another person's federally protected rights include municipal corporations. A supervising authority, such as a city, may be liable under § 1983 for failing to train police officers when the failure to train demonstrates deliberate indifference to the constitutional rights of those with whom the officers may come into contact.
A police officer may be liable under state law for battery when he or she uses excessive force to affect an arrest. A police officer may also be found liable for damages under 42 U.S.C.A. § 1983 for violating an arrestee's constitutional rights by using unreasonable force in effecting an arrest.