Terrence P. Dwyer, Esq.

Police Liability and Litigation

Terrence P. Dwyer retired from the New York State Police after a 22-year career as a Trooper and Investigator. He is a tenured professor of legal studies at Western Connecticut State University and an attorney consulting on law enforcement liability, disciplinary cases, critical incidents and employment matters. He is the author of “The Badge Between Us: Duty, Marriage, and Family,” Bloomsbury Publishing (2026) and “Homeland Security Law: Issues and Analysis,” Cognella Publishing (2024). Visit his website at https://terrencepdwyer.com.

LATEST ARTICLES

Social Media

Risky business: Law enforcement and social media

Part one of a two-part series

December 18, 2012 06:16 AM

Terrence P. Dwyer, Esq.

Legal

Cell phones, privacy, and the Fourth Amendment

August 08, 2012 11:07 AM

Terrence P. Dwyer, Esq.

Community Policing

Disclosure of information in the aftermath of an officer-involved shooting

When a public servant takes a life, the public has a right to know certain details, but they should receive this information within the proper contextual balance

July 06, 2012 12:20 PM

Terrence P. Dwyer, Esq.

Legal

US Supreme Court examines scope of governmental immunity

Law enforcement officers who testify at grand jury are now protected by absolute immunity, a protection already afforded to prosecutors and judges

May 22, 2012 04:25 PM

Terrence P. Dwyer, Esq.

Legal

Can the ‘right to resist’ become a license to kill?

The Model Penal Code — and supporting commentary — specifically prohibit use of force in resisting an arrest, even if that arrest is believed to be illegal

March 27, 2012 11:30 AM

Terrence P. Dwyer, Esq.

Legal

2011 in Review: 7 key decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court sets the minimal constitutional standard to be applied, state courts are free to provide broader constitutional protections under state constitutions

December 06, 2011 11:09 AM

Terrence P. Dwyer, Esq.

Legal considerations in the use of digital video in criminal cases

Law enforcement’s challenge with the proliferation of potential video evidence is in obtaining and preserving the images captured for future evidentiary value

October 04, 2011 08:35 AM

Terrence P. Dwyer, Esq.

2011 World Police & Fire Games: Camaraderie and competition

Despite the short-term damper of Hurricane Irene, and a handful of glitches, miscues, and planning-related issues, the competition and the competitors were first class all the way

September 03, 2011 04:24 PM

Terrence P. Dwyer, Esq.

Juvenile Crime

Age and custody: U.S. Supreme Court alters the rules

The decision in J.D.B. v. North Carolina has signaled a major change in the Miranda landscape

July 05, 2011 07:22 AM

Terrence P. Dwyer, Esq.

Legal

Videotaping the police: A brief legal analysis

June 08, 2011 05:21 AM

Terrence P. Dwyer, Esq.