Law Enforcement Policies
This Policies section highlights how law enforcement policy plays out in the real world, while also connecting you with best practices for drafting, updating and ensuring accountability with policies.
If your agency chooses to do its public safety policy management in-house, then what unexpected costs could impact your department’s budget?
New laws and court decisions mean updated law enforcement policies; here’s an overview of some important topics to watch throughout the year
Exploring the ever-growing array of options and implements that promise to restore order to out-of-control situations
“It’s like playing a game and telling the players after it’s over what the rules are,” said Sheriff Joe Gamble
The proposed reforms include reevaluating police “coaching” practices, creating a new community liaison and expanding mental crisis response programs
The law requires California police agencies to disclose their inventories of military-grade equipment
Officers will now be stationed within sight of one another
Officers can only pursue if there “is a valid law enforcement need to detain the person” that outweighs the dangers of pursuit
Last week, a police union said the officers were not trained for water rescues and followed protocol by waiting for a boat
“This is an illegal pursuit. They’re not supposed to be able to pursue,” a man says on the call
The agency released videos that show multiple drivers refusing to stop for deputies who cannot pursue them
A team of nine, including current and former law enforcement officials, will review the police response to the mass shooting
As the state’s first certification deadline approaches, some police groups raised concern with certain language in the guidelines
The concern focuses on a new rule that requires agencies to assess if officers “promote public confidence”
In one incident, a driver called 911 and cited the state ban on certain police pursuits to explain why he wasn’t stopping
The document urges action in the face of rising violent crime and the coexisting challenge of recruiting and retaining police officers
Police leaders and influencers must be advocates for disabled LEOs, both for those who hope to return to work and those who never will
Why first responders should seek treatment as soon as mental health symptoms appear
Consider carefully whether the use of CBD products and the testing pitfalls are worth risking your job or your credibility
“When officers make mistakes in their career, 95% of the time it’s the fault of the department.”
Offering educational options versus punitive responses can make all the difference
By mining their own data, departments can pinpoint issues, save careers and better serve communities
Extra jobs are common among cops, but they can be risky in more ways than one. Leaders must consider the following liabilities if they want to avoid making the news
Court refused to dismiss county liability allegation that sheriff tacitly authorized pattern of unlawful bean bag deployment
How to mitigate the legitimate risks of viewing video evidence, including the risk of corrupting an officer’s memory
The new contract would also require officers to undergo a mental health screening before returning to work following a “critical incident”
46% also said videos of police use of deadly force should be made public immediately after it’s determined they won’t jeopardize an investigation
Under the new policy, officers would only be able to make pretextual stops if they are “acting upon articulable information”
Good communication in public safety agencies relies on understanding basic communication dynamics and building trust
Supervisor interaction and performance feedback is the glue between officers feeling valued and performing at or above standards
Updates on the latest body-worn camera legislation, funding, training and more
The proposed policy would bar such stops “unless officers are acting upon articulable information”
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