Legal
The Legal topic page on Police1 is a must-read for any officer, at any agency, who wants to stay up-to-date on the latest news. Every trial, verdict and court decision that has to do with cops will be covered on this page.
Derek Chauvin, convicted of murdering George Floyd, was stabbed in prison and is now serving his sentence in a different facility
Learn what a sovereign citizen is, how they use fake license plates, whether they can be arrested and how U.S. courts view their legal defense
The D.C. Circuit ruled in U.S. v. Brown that forcing a suspect to unlock a phone with a thumbprint violates the Fifth Amendment
State law forbids local LE from holding undocumented immigrants solely in response to detainer requests; Douglas County sued, saying the law prevents inter-agency cooperation
The video led to a frisk and concealed firearm discovery, sparking debate over reasonable suspicion and the legality of the search
In U.S. v. Jackson, a priest questions the validity of a search warrant based on insufficient “place to be searched”
The legislation, which went into effect on July 1, 2024, requires police to file reports for all interactions with the public, from brief inquiries to actions ending in arrests
Evidence Rule 404(b) can hit a testifying officer like a rear-end collision
The agreement requires the agency to revise use of force policies, ensure traffic stops are constitutional and improve protest responses
Kansas City Police Captain Jim Swoboda alleged he was retaliated against and surveilled by officers after standing up for an officer facing discrimination
San Diego County supervisors voted to prohibit its sheriff’s department from working with the agency; Sheriff Kelly Martinez said the board does not set policy for the sheriff
These decisions could redefine police procedures, training and community interactions nationwide
“The proper administration of justice...has been and will continue to be threatened due to the Philadelphia Sheriff Office’s systemic failures to properly staff courtrooms,” the order states
A jury cleared Penny of criminally negligent homicide in Neely’s 2023 death; a manslaughter charge was dismissed in deliberations because the jury deadlocked on that count
“The odor of raw cannabis strongly suggests that the cannabis is not being possessed within the parameters of Illinois law,” the ruling states
Jurors have been deliberating for several days on whether to convict Daniel Penny of manslaughter in the death of Jordan Neely; they will now consider a negligent homicide charge
The two gaming officers were charged in 2023 with failing to intervene to stop the actions of a former Clear Creek County deputy who ultimately shot Glass after a standoff
The Justice Department’s report marked the conclusion of the investigation that began six months after the death of Tyre Nichols following a traffic stop in 2023
The suit alleges “unlawful killings” by SWAT members, cover-ups of the alleged misconduct and a so-called “SWAT mafia” that exercised “god-like power” over the unit
“[Hobbs] was an award-winning K-9, great partner, and loyal friend. Our K-9 Unit works hard each day to...carry on his legacy,” a Des Moines PD spokesperson said
Officer Christopher Schurr, charged with second-degree murder in the shooting, stated that the suspect had control of his TASER and that he was in fear for his safety
The judge’s campaign statements undermined confidence he would give the accused a fair hearing, said the president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Justice Eugene Doherty found fault with prosecutors for basing their arguments against release on the officer’s failures to meet expectations during the shooting
“Joanna’s Law” would help identify staged suicides that could otherwise deceive investigators and let killers walk free
The Justice Department said Donald Trump can no longer be tried in accordance with longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted
A jury ultimately ruled that the fire was accidental and the result of a justified pursuit of a man accused of fleeing Osceola County deputies who believed he had a gun
The officer was driving at a “high rate of speed” when his police car struck a Dodge Durango that was turning left at an intersection
The jury found SIG Sauer defectively designed the P320, was negligent in selling it and showed reckless indifference to the rights of others in the distribution of the pistol
Two of the five firearms purchased were used to shoot Burnsville Police Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge and Firefighter-Paramedic Adam Finseth
Shawn Stines was sheriff of Letcher County when police said he walked into District Judge Kevin Mullins’ chambers, spoke with the judge and then opened fire
The suspect, who was arrested for DUI earlier in the day, returned to the Northwest Regional police station with a handgun and pointed it at officers
Each president and Congress can make life a little easier or more difficult for cops, and sometimes it’s a guessing game as to which way the new guys will lean
After the traffic stop, the man searched online for info about the trooper who pulled him over; he eventually found an address for the trooper’s childhood home
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