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.
A recent case involving law enforcement provides an opportunity for a closer look
While GPS is not new technology, the use of geofence warrants in law enforcement investigations is relatively recent
The appellate court began its analysis by noting that a charging vehicle can be a deadly weapon
Two departments in the small state currently require body cameras, though others have had pilot programs
If passed, the bill would prohibit the use of federal dollars to hire or maintain police officers in schools nationwide
The investigative technique is an unreasonable search and seizure, the court ruled
The lawsuit alleges that investigators violated the Freedom of Information Act by refusing to release police reports and 911 calls
The bill boosts support and legal protection for law enforcement officers
A report says the agency uses outdated security equipment and struggles to effectively detect threats made online
Under Massachusetts law, drowning isn’t considered a line-of-duty death, which means Officer Enmanuel Familia’s wife would not get his full pension
The House first approved the medal in March but held a second vote to ensure that both chambers passed the identical measure
Employment lawyer Scott Moore Esq., addresses frequently asked questions
Officer De’Joure Mercer claims he suffered public scorn after the NFL posted publicly about a police shooting
A California judge granted the suspect entry to a two-year mental health diversion program
A recent 10th Circuit case highlights the high level of difficulty in proving law enforcement failure to train
The suit alleges negligence related to the undercover operation that led to Jarrott’s death in February
Some lawyers say the rule against recording may not apply if the officer felt threatened
The suit alleges that the driver had slowed down and activated her blinker when the trooper hit her car
Going forward, New Jersey police departments will have to annually publish names of officers who were fired, demoted or suspended for more than five days
A recent case from the 4th Circuit applies the Gant rule, demonstrating its impact on a warrantless search incident to arrest
Deangela Eaton had been set for a jury trial on charges including attempted murder, but instead pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison
The court limited the scope of the federal law against computer hacking, ruling it does not include people who misuse information they were authorized to see
Derek Chauvin has no criminal history and would likely be targeted for prison violence, his attorney argued
The bill passed with bipartisan support
One of the fired officers was reinstated with full back pay, while the firing of another was upheld
Court also rejects lower court use of freeze-frame “screen shots,” ruling that it amounts to “20/20 hindsight and second-guessing” of officer split-second decision to shoot
The Supreme Court had previously held that tribal police have little authority over non-members
The court rules on whether a deputy had reasonable suspicion to extend a traffic stop based on the suspect’s behavior and state of his vehicle
Among the charges are second-degree murder and manslaughter
A portion of bodycam video released earlier shows the suspect lunging at and attacking a responding officer
The bill allows photos to be released if the suspect poses an “immediate danger” to the public
Training in de-escalation, duty to intercede and other tactics, as well as improved communication between LEOs, can help contribute to improved pre-force actions
The Court held, “the application of physical force to the body of a person with intent to restrain is a seizure even if the person doesn’t submit and isn’t subdued”
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