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.
Appeals court upheld overbroad search warrant describing a multi-unit home as single-family, ruling it valid and objectively reasonable
No qualified immunity for officers who fired at an uninvolved driver, finding their force and vehicle seizure unreasonable
The 5th Circuit upheld a human trafficking conviction after ruling a deputy’s detention and search were supported by reasonable suspicion
On April 7, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 364, which allows people with work authorization from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to serve as LEOs
Gov. Joe Lombardo said the “Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act” has provisions that increase penalties for cyberstalking, retail theft, DUIs and fentanyl trafficking
The man fled a traffic stop, drove through two red lights and smashed into the passenger side of Hartford Police Officer Robert “Bobby” Garten’s cruiser
Gov. Lujan Grisham’s emergency declaration follows a March 31 request by Albuquerque’s police chief, who pointed to the fentanyl epidemic and an increase in violent juvenile crime
The docuseries provides background on the trial of Karen Read in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe
Capt. Steve Hirjak alleged that he was blamed and mistreated after a different commander violated protest response policies
Ronald Mortensen has maintained that another Metropolitan PD officer who was with him at the time of the off-duty, drive-by shooting, was the person who killed a 21-year-old man
Proposition 36, which took effect in December after a landslide victory at the ballot box, increases penalties for street crime — but local officials say they need more funding
In Dimock v. City of Brooklyn Center, the court ruled warrantless entry and deadly force was lawful, citing exigent circumstances doctrine
In U.S. v. Turner, officers conducted a lawful warrantless protective sweep after exigent circumstances linked to a reported gunshot
Randy Rangel, who spent 32 years with the department before retiring in 2023, claimed he was retaliated against after he reported fraud, discrimination and lax supervision
Michigan voters in 2018 legalized the possession and use of small amounts of marijuana by people who are at least 21 years old, though it cannot be used inside a vehicle
Detective Joseph Azcona was shot before exiting his car; the shooter and another officer were also wounded in the gun battle
Meriden PD Chief Roberto Rosado said the smell of burning marijuana is easy to detect on city roadways and that the bill is a “common-sense” effort to make streets safer
Sacramento Officer Tara O’Sullivan was shot and left critically wounded while Adel Ramos continued firing at police, preventing rescue efforts for nearly an hour
From reasonable suspicion to courtroom scrutiny, here’s what officers need to know about executing Terry stops properly
Learn what police officers can and can’t do in five common situations, from traffic stops to public filming, and understand the laws that protect your rights
Mikal Mahdi was sentenced to death for the 2004 killing of Orangeburg Officer James Myers, whom he ambushed and shot at least eight times
Firefighters, police officers and teachers will see higher Social Security payments starting in April after the repeal of WEP and GPO under the new Social Security Fairness Act
A judge ruled that due to a law prohibiting police involvement with vehicle repossessions without a court order, the officer was not acting in his official capacity when the shooting occurred
The league’s suit accused the commander of passing herself off as a lower-ranking officer and filling out a survey meant to grade supervisors
The Branson PD stated activity by groups like the Predator Poachers can pose “unnecessary risk” toward victims and cause harm through “unproven accusations”
A former sheriff and a volunteer firefighter created a bill that makes harassing first responders engaged in their lawful duty a first-degree misdemeanor
Royer, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran with 26 years in the mortgage industry, is the visionary behind the HELPER Act, a bill aimed at providing first responders with VA-style home loan benefits
Sheriffs from across the state traveled to the state capitol to protest the bill, saying it would turn Maryland into a “sanctuary state” and place residents in danger
Iowa AG Brenna Bird said that while the Winneshiek Sheriff’s Office has so far complied with the requests, the post itself violates the state’s sanctuary policy ban
The law, House Bill 495, requires Gov. Mike Kehoe to appoint a transition director to oversee the state takeover’s implementation; that period will need to end by July 1, 2026
The 7-2 opinion found that existing gun laws allow regulation of kits allowing for easy at-home building
Following a Ninth Circuit decision on use of force, one sheriff’s new policy has sparked debate over legal interpretation, responder safety and the future of crisis response models
How the deliverance of the Miranda Rights, when in custody or before interrogation, became law
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