The defendants contend that a police officer enjoys qualified immunity from liability for false imprisonment. 3 Just as surely as *260 the doctrine exists, it manifestly does not apply in this case. In Harlow v.

Ct. 2727, 2738 (1982), the Supreme Court held: [Government officials performing discretionary functions generally are shielded from liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory

The defense of' qualified immunity thus is defeated if the official “‘knew or reasonably should have known that the action he took within his sphere of official responsibility would violate the constitutional rights of the [plaintiff