Patrol Issues
The Patrol Issues topic page offers news, commentary, analysis, and tactical tips that will help prepare police officers for life on the thin blue line.
From political violence and immigration enforcement to shifting criminal justice policy, 2025 forced local law enforcement to absorb the consequences of national decisions — regardless of ideology
On-duty workouts boost officer strength, health and morale
Bold public support shows how leadership fuels officer morale and commitment to following policy
In an evolving field where seconds matter, RTIC experts from two California agencies explain how they turn high-tech information into real-time action to stop crime and save lives
Ohio DPS Director Andy Wilson on how intelligence-led policing, statewide resources and transparency with courts are helping agencies target violent criminals
Learn quick resets to use during and after a profanity-laced command confrontation
A real-world law enforcement test of Rocky’s Jump Boot Pro — long shifts, wet conditions, hard pavement and zero break-in time
With longer wait times for backup and fewer basic technologies, rural officers face safety risks that often go unnoticed outside their communities
Survey responses show officers want existing situational awareness tools to work consistently, seamlessly and intuitively before agencies invest in anything new
Furtive movements, gang affiliation and parole status created reasonable suspicion for vehicle frisk in U.S. v. McGregor
New research from Texas State University’s ALERRT Center examines whether VR can elicit stress responses similar to live scenarios — and what that means for modern police training
Graham factors and qualified immunity shield most officers but allow excessive force claim after one officer’s two final shots
Court rules a woman’s voluntary consent to search was valid, emphasizing the officer’s calm tone and her understanding of rights
Through hard lessons learned, IACP presenters advocate for changing the culture of the dynamic ballistic shield
A handcuffed man threw himself over a second-floor railing, forcing officers into a life-or-death rescue and raising fears about how the incident might be portrayed
A strange call behind an NYU dorm turns into an unexpected moment of connection on a rookie’s night foot post
IMPD officers overwhelmingly supported a test of the 5 on, 3 off, 4 on, 4 off schedule, which would allow officers 37 more days off per year than their previous schedule
Faced with historic staffing shortages, the San Francisco Police Department is overhauling everything from testing speed to academy prep to build a modern recruitment pipeline
Court holds an officer’s view through a motel curtain gap was not a Fourth Amendment search, clarifying curtilage and expectation of privacy
Owners aren’t owed compensation for police damage to property from lawful searches, spotlighting a constitutional question ripe for review
Watch this Wellness Brief discussion on recovery from a violent assault and knowing when to call a clinician
The real math behind police fatigue and why shift length, not call volume alone, should drive staffing decisions
A national Police1 survey of more than 500 women uncovers a workplace reality many still navigate quietly, revealing how culture, power and fear shape their day-to-day decisions
Having a bad day? The Wellness Brief unpacks the Texas tunnel collision and the wellness, supervisor support every officer needs
A lieutenant’s daughter highlights the small moments and steady routines that help police families stay strong while officers balance work and home
Appeals court upheld overbroad search warrant describing a multi-unit home as single-family, ruling it valid and objectively reasonable
No qualified immunity for officers who fired at an uninvolved driver, finding their force and vehicle seizure unreasonable
A growing trend has officers driving with emergency lights on during routine patrol. Critics say it confuses the public, kills tactics and lacks any data to support it. What do you think?
A chief’s poem captures the quiet sacrifice of the officers who spend Thanksgiving on duty
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