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.
Complaints against our officers will never go away. However, don’t always perceive them negatively
It seems like every week we hear of a squad car being stolen somewhere in the U.S. Follow these steps to make sure it doesn’t happen to your cruiser
Understanding the impact of recent changes in California law
Planning and prevention define responses to high-profile officer-involved incidents
If officers don’t understand the legal realities of these dicey situations, they run the risk of making matters worse
While a dynamic pursuit is in progress, conditions change constantly and decisions have to be made in an instant
Many police departments are starting the New Year at less than optimal staffing levels – if that describes your agency, follow these strategies to find new police recruits
San Francisco’s police chief says he’s drafting a new policy that tells officers to avoid ordering suspects to sit on the ground
From active shooter response protocols to screening processes for new recruits, police leaders will face many challenges in the coming year
It’s critical that we ask and answer the questions that arise from this new information
State Sen. Rhonda Fields said she wants to create statewide requirements for evaluating when officers can return to work
Staying awake isn’t the only goal of fatigue management – being tired is dangerous for everyone
Strong leadership makes all the difference in law enforcement
For most agencies, off-duty opportunities are here to stay, but the dash for cash must be optimized to meet the mission of the department first
Every police agency should include a social media communications policy in its active shooter response protocols to ensure timely delivery of information
Sensitivity to workplace attitudes is a leadership issue that requires forward thinking and collaborative policy-making
The procurement of any new equipment for law enforcement requires communication with and buy-in from internal stakeholders
"[The bill] is a complex proposal that could compromise public safety,” according to a statement from the Fraternal Order of Police
About 9 million of the business cards are personalized with officers’ names, shield numbers and other required information
The move was in response to a letter from a national nonprofit that advocates for the separation of church and state
We cannot allow the de-escalation narrative to put the safety of criminals before the safety of innocents and the police
We focus a lot of attention on what happens during the pursuit, but what about after?
Attorney Mildred O’Linn said the court’s decision was “worth millions in governmental immunity to cities and counties”
As temperatures rise, common sense declines as evidenced in this recent set of cop-related headlines
Cincinnati’s vice mayor has proposed raising the minimum age for ECD use from 7 to 12 years old
There are some common phrases that can escalate situations and generally counter an officer’s effort to effectively communicate
Officers who establish strong supportive resources before a critical incident are less likely to have difficulties after the incident
The union representing ICE employees urged the mayor to end his ban on city police helping ICE workers who have faced hostility from pro-immigrant activists
Among the proposed reforms are requiring that officers issue a verbal warning before any use of force
After the first six defendants to go on trial were found not guilty, charges were dropped against more than 150 others
The sheriff said certain honors were not given to Deputy Omar Calderon, who died by suicide, due to the nature of the LEO’s death
Court orders prohibiting police in L.A. and elsewhere in California from enforcing gang injunctions are prompting LE leaders to rethink how they employ the tool
In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss when supervisors overreact
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- Police & press interactions: A legal understanding
- Poll: Under which circumstances does your agency allow a vehicle pursuit?
- Union boss blasts decision to fire NYPD cop over Garner death
- DOJ: Portland police slipping further from compliance with settlement
- Fourth Circuit is first to rule that livestreaming police is protected speech, but questions remain about officer safety