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.
Implement these steps to help ensure when your officers are asked how they are holding up after an OIS you’ll get an answer that’s better than “I’m okay.”
Any SWAT team still doing things the same way they did even 10 years ago should quickly reevaluate the viability of their tactics
Six steps to balancing efficiency and safety when multiple officers converge on a scene
Portland mayor Ted Wheeler ordered the city to stop using a common type of tear gas except as a last resort
Mayor Jenny Durkan said the ban on CS gas would continue for 30 days
The policy requires officers to “either stop or attempt to stop” another officer when physical force is being applied inappropriately
“It is time for our department to focus on alternative de-escalation tools and techniques that will help ensure the safety of those individuals in our custody”
Police officers are also now required to intervene any time they see an unauthorized use of force by another officer
As this incident leads the news, it is imperative we identify lessons we can apply to training, policy and community relations
Tactical decisions, including the decision to use force, require a quick calculation of the risk of action against the risk of delay
De-escalation and communication skills are key in the fast-paced, unpredictable world of emergency psychiatry
We need to get officers thinking about where and when to deploy spike strips, as well as where not to deploy them
The clarity, consistency and credibility of internal messaging was particularly important during this event
A woman was killed when plainclothes officers entered her home with a no-knock warrant and her boyfriend, believing them to be intruders, opened fire on them
Leaders in our nation’s jails and prisons should follow these six steps to address the crisis, reduce the risk and provide much-needed support
Your lifesaving emergency equipment won’t work properly if you don’t maintain it
“It doesn’t surprise me, to be honest with you,” said Cpl. James Ellenberger. “Some will post their crimes on Faceboook and talk about how they think they’ve gotten away with it”
You are never off duty as a police officer when it comes to how you represent yourself, your agency and your responsibilities
A video of a cop criticizing COVID-19 decrees has amassed nearly 1 million views and reignited the discussion about what officers should and should not say in uniform
Vigilance at every step helps officers avoid complacency and ward off prisoner escapes or assaults
Should all able-bodied sworn officers be placed in uniform into field operations until the orders are rescinded?
With unscrupulous manufacturers selling defective masks and citizens donating ‘homemade’ efforts, public safety agencies must establish face mask guidelines
Most of the killings tragically involve a definable list of deadly tactical errors
When asked if agencies had conducted training in the COVID decrees and explained the penalties for violations and enforcement procedures, more than 60% said no
This pandemic provides an extraordinary opportunity to reshape law enforcement operations and relationships with communities
COPS Office report outlines shortfall of departments in providing adequate mental health resources officers feel comfortable accessing
The key to the interview process is to understand an officer’s state of mind and decision-making process during the event
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office will soon allow deputies to cite minors arrested for misdemeanors instead of arresting them
Best practices and numerous court admonishments prescribe that an agency has a written vehicle inventory policy.
Public safety leaders must consider the larger policy implications inherent in determining how these new laws and guidance apply to personnel
Police leaders have many questions relating to operations during this national emergency
Though the chief and the county were not held liable, this case points to the critical need for policy guiding carrying of weapons off duty
If called upon to deliver a death notification during COVID-19, follow these steps to ensure a professional and empathic response
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