Legal
The Legal topic page on Police1 is a must-read for any officer, at any agency, who wants to stay up-to-date on the latest news. Every trial, verdict and court decision that has to do with cops will be covered on this page.
Second Amendment auditors intentionally test police reactions. Here’s how officers can stay professional, protect rights and prevent encounters from escalating
Marketed as immigration reform, SB 627 does nothing to regulate ICE and instead punishes California’s local officers by removing long-standing legal protections
Circuit court ruled an officer could be held liable for failing to stop jail staff from assaulting detainee, citing duty to intervene
Charges were dismissed against Benjamin Plank, accused of ambushing and murdering Oklahoma County Deputy Bobby Swartz in 2022, due to mental incompetence
Kevin Golphin is serving life in the murders of State Trooper Ed Lowry and Corporal David Hathcock; he has tried to argue that his sentencing at age 17 violated the Eighth Amendment
U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis also ruled that agents in the area must wear badges and banned them from using certain riot control techniques
Why intensive, accountable treatment courts beat “probation as usual” and how agencies can target the right people, measure results and keep communities safe
The Marysville Police Department and the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office denied workplace safety violations alleged by CAL-OSHA in the shooting death of Officer Osmar Rodarte
Kyren Lacy, an LSU receiver who had declared for the NFL draft, was charged for allegedly causing the crash that killed a man; Lacy died by apparent suicide before his trial
Officers tricked into assisting a fraudulent motorcycle repossession were not liable for unlawful search or seizure under Fourth Amendment
The judge said the deployment violated the 10th Amendment, which grants certain powers to states, and the 14th Amendment, which assures due process and equal protection
Joshua Rocha shot North Kansas City Police Officer Daniel Vasquez three times with an AR-15 during a traffic stop for expired tags on July 19, 2022
Lawyers for the city of Los Angeles and the Department of Homeland Security previously argued that the judge’s ban was impractical and overly broad
“These individuals’ behavior was completely destructive, dangerous and against the law,” Gov. Maura Healey said
“If you take away [officers’] discretion by mandating quotas ... it doesn’t bode well for police-community relationships,” former sheriff and State Rep. Phil Plummer said
Brad Lunsford was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting of a man who had gained control of his TASER; a judge awarded him a new trial due to errors in jury handling
U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings said Brett Hankison “failed to demonstrate a substantial question of law or fact material to his appeal justifying bond”
The measure imposed $50,000 fines for officers who knowingly enforced the laws; lower courts found the law violated the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause
The same judge had temporarily blocked Trump from deploying the Oregon National Guard the day prior
Circuit court ruled 20-minute delay nullified the hot pursuit exception, making officers’ warrantless entry into a backyard unlawful
Suspect had no reasonable expectation of privacy in an unlocked, out-of-order public restroom, upholding search as valid
“I am inclined to terminate the consent decree,” U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Cox Arleo said, noting that she will allow for two weeks of public input before making a final decision
The Worcester City Council voted 8-2 on a resolution opposing any pursuit or consideration of a 287(g) agreement between the city and ICE
A dissenting judge warned the ruling could undermine road safety, saying, “People who traverse our Florida highways are entitled to share the roads with sober and safe drivers”
Monterey Park Police Officer Gardiel Solorio “was more than an officer — he was a son, a brother, a friend and a hero. His sacrifice continues to inspire all of us,” the department wrote
Garry Chapman, the son of Dog the Bounty Hunter, was terminated from the Priceville Police Department for allegedly violating pursuit procedures
The officer claimed department leaders retaliated against him after he tried to assist a recruit who believed she was the victim of discrimination
Wintergreen Police Officer Chris Wagner was murdered in June 2023; when he responded to violence at a remote cabin, Daniel Barmak shot him six times
Jillian Lauren was charged with assault and negligent discharge after the incident; if she follows the terms of her diversion program for two years, all charges will be dropped
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