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Mike Callahan

The Objectively Reasonable Officer

John Michael Callahan served in law enforcement for 44 years. His career began as a special agent with NCIS. He became an FBI agent and served in the FBI for 30 years, retiring in the position of supervisory special agent/chief division counsel. He taught criminal law/procedure at the FBI Academy. After the FBI, he served as a Massachusetts Deputy Inspector General and is currently a deputy sheriff for Plymouth County, Massachusetts. He is the author of two published books on deadly force and an upcoming book on supervisory and municipal liability in law enforcement.

Contact Mike Callahan.

LATEST ARTICLES
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Legal
Alabama appeals court reverses murder conviction of Ala. officer who shot, killed suicidal subject
The court ruled that self-defense jury instruction that treated the officer like an ordinary citizen was erroneous
May 16, 2023 01:45 PM
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Mike Callahan
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Legal
Ninth Circuit in split decision rejects qualified immunity for LAPD cop who shot, killed offender beating another officer
Dissenting judge highly critical of fellow judges concluding: “the rule of law [they treat] as clearly established … could well make the difference in whether officers like Agdeppa and Rodriguez make it out of a violent altercation alive.”
April 12, 2023 02:03 PM
 · 
Mike Callahan
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Officer-Involved Shootings
First Circuit reverses qualified immunity denial, exonerates officers who killed knife-wielding terrorist
The suspect, who was armed with a 13” knife, was stopped and shot by officers on his way to kill police officers at random
November 30, 2022 06:51 PM
 · 
Mike Callahan
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Officer-Involved Shootings
Fifth Circuit reverses lower court grant of qualified immunity to Texas police officer
The appellate court was critical of the officer’s decision to enter a suspect’s vehicle, which resulted in the shooting death of the driver and a second officer being struck twice by the vehicle
November 15, 2022 12:42 PM
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Mike Callahan
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Legal
Court of Appeals affirms city not liable for excessive force used by off-duty officers who consumed alcohol
Federal judge overturns $1.2M civil rights jury verdict against City of Indianapolis
September 26, 2022 06:52 PM
 · 
Mike Callahan
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Legal
Ohio Supreme Court suppresses public employee statements taken in violation of the Fifth Amendment
The Court ruled that the employee statements were compelled by threat of job loss and inadmissible in a criminal proceeding
September 06, 2022 11:59 AM
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Mike Callahan
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Legal
Washington state adds ‘racial and ethnic’ bias considerations to its state constitutional test for whether police have ‘seized’ a person
Court holds requesting personal identification in a public location, without threats, overt coercion, or a display of force, was a seizure requiring reasonable suspicion
July 20, 2022 03:57 PM
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Mike Callahan
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Legal
Court: Officer who shot suspect in the back did not violate clearly established law, entitled to qualified immunity
The officer, believing the suspect was armed and that a fellow officer was in danger, shot the suspect from behind
July 11, 2022 08:16 PM
 · 
Mike Callahan
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Legal
Officers denied qualified immunity for illegally detaining murder victim’s family members
Officers transported family members to the police station without consent or probable cause for interview while victim died at the hospital
June 30, 2022 07:08 PM
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Mike Callahan
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Legal
Federal Appeals Court rules gun discovery violates Fourth Amendment because traffic stop was unlawfully extended
Philadelphia officers had removed a vehicle’s passenger for safety concerns during a traffic stop and found a loaded pistol
May 02, 2022 11:18 PM
 · 
Mike Callahan
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