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.
Following a Ninth Circuit decision on use of force, one sheriff’s new policy has sparked debate over legal interpretation, responder safety and the future of crisis response models
The Omaha Police Department has adopted an approach where its interviewing investigators do not watch video evidence before interviewing officers involved in serious uses of force
The 8th Circuit ruled in U.S. v. Hamber that an officer lawfully extended a stop to frisk a sleeping driver in a high-crime area
Read about cops’ concerns regarding traffic stop safety, training and tactics
Renewed calls for regulation come as suburban police departments expand camera use to combat rising crime
The L.A. Police Commission requested more information after reports showed LAPD vaccination rates lagging behind California’s overall population
Gov. Tim Walz announced a change in BWC policy and says he is using $15 million in COVID relief money for violence prevention grants
Our expert panel discusses officers’ opinions on critical issues currently impacting law enforcement including the criminal justice reforms that officers support and police officer job satisfaction levels
Decision unites Courts’ conservatives and liberals
Seventh Circuit reverses lower court dismissal of civil rights lawsuit and reinstates officer and city as proper defendants
Responses from a Police1 survey of more than 1,000 LEOs should be a critical element of the national dialog concerning traffic stops
In addition to tactical training, incorporating decision-making skills into law enforcement training is critical for safety and success
A recent 10th Circuit case highlights the high level of difficulty in proving law enforcement failure to train
“No one wants anyone using a firearm while impaired. A more specific policy — the time may have come for that,” the commission president said
Agencies should be obsessed with informing their communities about who they are – caring professionals committed to protecting the public by doing the right things right
From allowing the public to audit in-service training classes and participate on promotional panels, there are many ways to increase transparency and improve trust
Best practices for community communications around police policy
Proactive communications about policy changes demonstrates to your community that you are responsive to their concerns and continuously improving
When those creating policies hear from those most affected – the officers who are bound by the policy and the public – it has a profound and productive effect
The memo directed law enforcement officials to develop policies in the next 30 days that govern the use of such cameras
The change involves language about “deadly force” used in a previous policy that had been adopted less than a month ago
Officers must use the individuals’ preferred pronouns, let them choose the gender of the officer who searches them and must take them to the jail facility that aligns with their gender identity
A look at some of the reforms police agencies and cities have implemented
Training in de-escalation, duty to intercede and other tactics, as well as improved communication between LEOs, can help contribute to improved pre-force actions
Whenever officers respond to calls, they must constantly assess the mission they are tasked with – and that mission can change at any time
The justices rejected a “community caretaking” rule that may authorize police to enter a home even if they have no evidence of a crime or an emergency
The university characterized the move as an effort for officers “to be more transparent and accountable with the communities they serve”
Among other changes, the revised policy calls for a department member at the rank of lieutenant or above to be at the scene when the warrant is executed
President Biden urged lawmakers to “find consensus” by the anniversary of George Floyd’s death
It is not just about protecting the officer and decreasing response times; it’s about protecting the community as well
As part of its protection efforts, the FBI requires all users of CJIS data to pass a demanding technical audit every three years
More than 20 states have considered bills this year to share disciplinary records of police officers, while about 20 states still largely prohibit their release
The preliminary injunction bars officers’ use of tear gas, pepper spray, wooden bullets and other less-lethal options
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