Anyone who has regularly watched television news reports in Connecticut over the past year has likely seen the footage of former Meriden police officer Even Cossette pushing a defendant into his jail cell with such force that the man fell, hitting the back of his head on a concrete bench.

Pedro Temich was knocked unconscious and taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured skull. It took 12 staples to close the 12-centimeter gash in the back of his head.