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.
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
A simple policy shop for police has grown into a comprehensive suite of operational and wellness solutions for first responders
The 2022 fatal shooting of a man, who was well-known to police, prompted the Albuquerque PD to change use-of-force policies
The new policy states that pursuits must be restricted to instances where officers have probable cause that a suspect committed a violent crime and is armed and dangerous
The new policy allows officers to ask about immigration status at stops and removes prohibitions on holding people longer to investigate their status
The Milwaukee Police Department stated that officers must have “articuable reasonable suspicion” that the fleeing person committed a crime and must continuously evaluate the risks of a foot pursuit
The cases reportedly targeted other involved drivers’ minimal insurance limits, according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s Office of Professional Standards
Chief State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin imposed a moratorium on the use of AI programs “to draft, author and/or narrate criminal reports” so agencies can test the software and establish policies
Incidents across multiple states point to recurring issues with overtime, supervision and internal controls
Ex-North Andover officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons was acquitted of pointing a gun at Officer Patrick Noonan after a judge ruled that the prosecution had not met the burden of proof
The 770-page study, released in full on April 1, and calls for hundreds of new cops to be hired and hundreds of existing CPD positions to be filled by new civilian employees
The San Diego Police Department issued a memo forbidding the use of AI tools unless specifically approved by the agency
A strong wellness policy moves beyond good intentions, building clear, accessible systems that support personnel before, during and after stress and critical incidents
Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the change formalizes the department’s existing practice and will help promote transparency
LEOs can demand physical ID if a satisfactory oral response isn’t provided, Ala. Supreme Court rules
The case reached the state’s high court after a federal appeals ruling questioned whether officers had probable cause in the arrest of a man watering his neighbor’s flowers
Following the deaths of Christian County Deputies Gabriel Ramirez and Michael Hislope, Probation Officer Patricia Drinkall is launching a petition-driven campaign to change bail and bond laws
ALPR remains one of policing’s most powerful investigative tools, but agencies that cannot demonstrate disciplined oversight risk legal challenges, public backlash and the loss of a critical technology
The agency substantially reduced residential searches while undergoing training to meet consent decree requirements, but aims to revive the practice now that training has been completed
The San Jose Police Department significantly surpassed its adopted overtime budget of $26.6 million, with total personnel services running $16.5 million over budget
The new directive bars masks intended to conceal identity while permitting use for safety, health and weather-related reasons
Antioch officials say the department has revised use of force, pursuit and bias-policing policies amid a multiyear federal compliance deal
Strategies for keeping agency policies current with laws, court rulings and best practices to reduce liability and strengthen compliance
In 2025 incidents, an officer investigating a felony warrant contacted CBP after suspecting the individual was not a U.S. citizen and a sergeant called CBP for translation help
The policy changes took effect in response to local concerns about federal immigration enforcement, the Madison Police Department stated
A campaign dispute in Alabama raises hard questions about dissent, accountability and democracy in elected policing
Always-on video now captures incidents before officers arrive and long after scenes are cleared, forcing agencies to rethink investigative workload, risk and evidence management
Twice in 2025, the council denied Mayor Karen Bass’s proposal to allow the LAPD to hire 410 more officers during the fiscal year; the council approved the about $2.6 million hiring budget on Jan. 21
League City officials are reassessing how artificial intelligence tools are used after a digitally edited booking photo prompted public questions
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