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.
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
Get insights into how the duty to intervene is transforming law enforcement through leadership, accountability and legal frameworks
After thousands of former police firearms were linked to crimes, the ATF warns law enforcement to reconsider resale policies. Should departments mandate destruction instead?
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
The accreditation process focuses on standards that provide best practices related to life, health and safety procedures for the agency
The 2016 law says that police video is not a public record and generally cannot be released without court approval
Veteran LEOs discuss the impact the George Floyd case and the Chauvin verdict will have on law enforcement
Officers may still stop people who have an outstanding warrant — worth $500 or less — but they will only document the encounter, officials said
Training is a necessity and should be an ongoing priority at every police agency, but getting it done is not as simple as it may seem
The commission is considering the repeal of a measure that gives LEOs separate rules for discipline
Framework of key policing reform proposals can be used as a starting point for bipartisan consensus
The jury’s decision to find Chauvin guilty may strengthen the calls for police reform that have been widespread since Floyd’s death
The new law allows public safety workers who reach 20 years of service within the next two years to retire with a pension, regardless of their age
Some plaintiffs claimed that the devices cause hearing damage, dizziness and migraines
The governor said the bill will also target calls to “defund the police,” which he said was an “insane theory”
When signed into law, penalties would be enhanced for crimes committed during a riot or violent protest
The most high-profile bill would allow a panel to decertify officers who engage in “serious misconduct”
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