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.
The court found the officers were justified in temporarily detaining the plaintiffs to ascertain their identities and ensure safety
After a prolonged pursuit in Laredo, Texas, the 5th Circuit granted qualified immunity to officers who fired on a suspect using his truck as a weapon
Two 911 calls, a suspicious route and a busted alibi helped officers intercept 32 pounds of methamphetamine on a South Dakota highway
Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized Oakland’s policy as an “extreme outlier” that undermines public safety and crime prevention
Detroit PD body camera video shows officers and a bailiff attempting to de-escalate the situation before the man moved toward them with a box cutter
Trump said relatives of victims are angry that Biden spared the lives of some of the “worst killers in our country,” including inmates convicted of killing police and military officers
“This was an unspeakable tragedy but Alec Baldwin committed no crime,” said the actor’s defense attorneys
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said the terror charge reflected the severity of a “frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation.”
Those whose lives were spared by the move include those convicted in the killings of police and military officers and the killings of guards or prisoners in federal facilities
Former Kansas City Police officer Eric DeValkenaere has been freed after his 2021 conviction of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Cameron Lamb in 2019
“The Commission’s decision finds the Appellant’s tweets to be protected speech and are not just cause for his termination,” a decision by the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission states
New Jersey’s top court paused a lower court decision that determined the attorney general overstepped his authority when he took control of the Paterson Police Department
The bill would repeal two policies that reduce or restrict Social Security benefits for retired first responders and other public employees
West Hartford Officer Andrew Teeter acted in order to “defend himself and others from what he reasonably believed to be a threat of serious injury or death”
The court directed Attorney General Matt Platkin to return control of the police department to city officials
Chen Jinping, 60, entered the guilty plea on a single count of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government in Brooklyn federal court
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
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