Denise Rocawich is a Partner in the Litigation Department of the firm. Mrs. Rocawich practices in both state and federal court representing various municipalities, and their respective police departments, throughout California.
Prior to joining Jones Mayer, Mrs. Rocawich was an Associate in the litigation practice group of Best Best & Krieger LLP representing numerous public entities and their respective police departments in a variety of capacities. Mrs. Rocawich graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of LaVerne in 2001 receiving her Bachelor of Arts in political science. She went on to receive her Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, in 2004 graduating in the top 15 percent of her class. She joined Jones Mayer in 2010.
Mrs. Rocawich’s practice includes defense of police officers and police agencies in civil rights actions, such as actions alleging excessive force, drafting of police policy and procedure, scene response to officer involved shootings, as well as advising police agencies on daily issues that arise during the course of performing law enforcement duties. Mrs. Rocawich also handles appeals of civil rights actions in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal and United States Supreme Court and also files a number of Amicus briefs in those courts notifying the courts of the practical effects of their decisions on law enforcement officers throughout the State. Mrs. Rocawich also serves as Assistant General Counsel to the California Police Chiefs Association, California State Sheriffs’ Association, and California Peace Officers’ Association, as well as serves as the State Chair of the Police Legal Advisors Committee.
She is a member of several professional organizations including the California Peace Officers’ Association, California Bar Association (Litigation Section), the Federal Bar Association (Inland Empire Chapter), and the American Bar Association (Litigation Section).