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 D.C. Circuit ruled in U.S. v. Brown that forcing a suspect to unlock a phone with a thumbprint violates the Fifth Amendment
It can protect officers from civil suits – here’s what to know
The 8th Circuit upheld officers’ use of force in Aden v. City of Bloomington, citing Graham factors and qualified immunity
The Court ruled in favor of a man who was arrested in 2018 for standing in his yard, pointing a flashlight at deputies and asking them questions about an arrest in progress
The Atlanta Police Department changed its policy in the wake of the incident, instructing officers not to arrest drivers for refusing to sign traffic citations
The resolutions address concerns that the city of Lancaster’s “Welcome City” ordinance will lead to immigration issues spilling into local communities
Law enforcement agencies first tried to clear the encampment at Auraria Higher Education Center on April 26; when protesters returned to the camp, Denver Chief Ron Thomas stated there was “no legal way” to clear them
Departments and officers should factor in citizen concerns, the U.S. Flag Code and the First Amendment in their decision
Someone acting nervous or attempting to hide can still be “relevant context” for officers, but those actions alone do not constitute “reasonable suspicion of criminal activity,” the Court ruled
The Court ruled that the cost of the measure was misrepresented to voters before the election
Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 1105, which will punish sheriffs who don’t notify immigration agents once they have identified that someone may be in the country illegally
“We conclude the Due Process Clause does not require a more exacting and rigid pre-termination process than what [Former officer Erik] Andrade received,” Justice Brian Hagedorn stated
How an officer responds should be based on both individual rights and officer safety
Exposing the startling lack of consistency in police policies and standards across different states, from training requirements to pay scales
The Police Benevolent Association alleged the policy goes against previous legal agreements allowing officers to take prescribed steroids without consulting a district surgeon
Teachers who want to carry must be approved by the school principal, school district and a local law enforcement agency, and must undergo a background check and training
Patrick McDowell pleaded guilty to the shooting death of Nassau County Deputy Joshua Moyers at a traffic stop in 2021
Former officer Ryan Pownall, initially charged with third-degree murder, had all charges dismissed when a judge ruled the DA’s office failed to provide accurate jury instructions regarding police use of force
The man’s vehicle slammed into Officer James Muhlbauer’s patrol car, killing him and his K-9 partner Champ; the impact caused the cruiser to strike and kill Jesse Eckes, a pedestrian
After viewing body camera footage, the judge stated it was not clear that the college student’s intentions with the post were violent or posed an imminent threat to officers
Family members filed a lawsuit after a man was killed when paramedics placed a backboard on his back and directed a police officer to sit on it
The appellate court began by citing other cases in which the court “held that it’s reasonable for officers to tase fleeing suspects”
The appellate panel noted that merely carrying a concealed gun could imply a crime under Michigan law, which requires individuals to prove their possession is lawful with a license
The man doused himself with fluid and lit himself on fire across the street from the courthouse where former President Donald Trump’s trial continues
The court stated that using the suspect’s thumbprint required no mental exertion on his part and fell into the same category as a blood test taken at booking
The law increases penalties for anyone who assaults or kills a law enforcement animal, including a hefty fine on top of paying for medical costs
St. Louis Police Sgt. Jaytonya Muldrow sued after she was forcibly transferred without a demotion or decrease in pay; the Supreme Court ruled that workers only have to show that the transfer resulted in “some harm” to prove their claims
The rise of consumer DNA testing and open genetic databases made forensic genetic genealogy a valuable tool for law enforcement investigations
Court ruled that a jury may find that participating officers used unconstitutional excessive force during the execution of the warrant
Luther Hall was walking back toward police headquarters following a protest in 2017 when his uniformed colleagues ordered him to put up his hands and get on the ground
A SWAT team executed a no-knock warrant on the wrong house, resulting in the injury of an occupant and a lawsuit
An officer struck by a “rock-like” object during a 2016 protest in Baton Rouge sued the protest’s organizer, alleging his role as organizer contributed to the incident
The legislation, which followed the death of a man crossing a street turned pitch black by the theft of copper wiring in streetlights, would require anyone selling copper metal to have a state-issued license
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