Patrol Issues
The Patrol Issues topic page offers news, commentary, analysis, and tactical tips that will help prepare police officers for life on the thin blue line.
The Terry stop is a versatile law enforcement tool for officers, but we must be aware of the hazards in these contacts and use tactics to mitigate them
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
“What we have been telling people is, ‘take your keys upstairs with you,’” said Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes
Fort Smith police had received a 911 call about a man assaulting a person who was on the ground
“I want to be out there and let them know that they can always come up to us,” said Officer Fernando Flores
During the first half of this year, the department confiscated 863 ghost guns
De-escalation is often presented as a panacea for use of force reduction, but research on the effectiveness of de-escalation techniques is limited
Chief Estella Patterson vowed a greater police presence at areas with “repeat calls of violence”
To cope, the department is eliminating some administrative roles, pulling officers off specialized units and relying more on overtime
Viral videos of the brazen thefts have fueled frustration and fear
Chief Larry Scirotto says the horses are great for tourism and events, but admits it can be hard to show they’re fighting crime
The notion of the least amount of force sounds nice, which makes it deceptively easy to believe – however, the concept is inherently flawed
Police say that 18 dedicated homicide detectives aren’t enough
New data from September shows progress against the city’s rising violence, police said
An evaluation of the impact of active bystandership training
So far in 2021, the NYPD has recovered 135 ghost guns, leading police to believe they’ll find more than last year’s 145
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw says there are “key disconnects” in “which crimes we prioritize”
I was surprised when I heard my neurosurgeon giving his supporting staff permission to “ABLE” him
A defendant argues that because an officer wrote a citation by hand, it improperly extended a traffic stop
Increase the challenge by adding realism to your training scenarios
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said that putting barriers between officers and sealed records would be a “serious setback for public safety”
The man had propped up his cellphone to record the attack
The group allows for community members to become involved and empowered in the problem-solving efforts
The 30-year-old officer is the 12th Chicago cop to be shot this year, a statistic that police Superintendent David Brown called “astounding”
IMPD is using bodycam videos not only to increase police transparency but also build support for officers
Residents see officers at their local temples, attending community events or on service calls and when they hear them speak Punjabi – it’s a game changer
Chiefs and sheriffs may need to consider greater enforcement efforts while not injuring police-community relations
Throughout an officer’s career, they are asked: “Why do you want to be a cop?”
Helping other officers to avoid behaviors that put their livelihoods, emotional well-being and freedoms at risk has no downside for a department or community
Biometrics
If supervisors could see an officer’s biometric response in real-time during high-stress calls such as a traffic stop or pursuit, intervention could occur without delay
Tactical intervention needs to be routinely, and realistically, trained upon
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