Brigette O. Robertson, a former special police officer in Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for violating the constitutional rights of a detained individual. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Robertson, who is 40 years old and lives in the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty on July 22, 2025, to a misdemeanor count of deprivation of rights under color of law before U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich.
Court documents show that on June 24, 2023, Robertson was working as a Special Police Officer for Specific Protection Services, LLC., licensed in D.C. to perform law enforcement duties. She was providing security at a McDonald’s restaurant located on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., Robertson became involved in a verbal dispute with a patron inside the restaurant. The situation escalated into a physical confrontation and officers from the Metropolitan Police Department responded to the scene. After an MPD officer had subdued the patron and the individual was lying face down on the ground, Robertson stepped over her and stomped on her face. This action caused pain and bleeding to the patron and was found to be without legal justification or authority.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro stated: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews police-involved use of force to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law. To prove civil rights violations, prosecutors must typically be able to prove that the involved officers willfully used more force than was reasonably necessary. Proving ‘willfulness’ is a heavy burden. Prosecutors must not only prove that the force used was excessive, but must also prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer acted with the deliberate and specific intent to do something the law forbids.”
She added: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely.”
The case was investigated by both the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department Internal Affairs Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Truscott prosecuted this matter for the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C.
