Can a police chief be held liable for the injuries sustained by a plaintiff as a result of excessive force?

A police chief's supervisory function can blur his liability based on official contrasted to individual capacity, the proof of which often overlaps. Larez v. City of Los Angeles, 946 F.2d 630, 645 (9th Cir. 1991) (partially affirming and partially reversing denial of motion for new trial). Although supervisors are rarely involved at the scene of a disputed incident, they may be individually liable if they "set[] in motion" the acts that "cause[d] others to inflict constitutional injury," or if they "condoned, ratified, and encouraged the excessive use of force." Id. at 645-46.