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.
Departments and officers should factor in citizen concerns, the U.S. Flag Code and the First Amendment in their decision
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
“If the ultimate sacrifice is made, I want [officers] to know we’re there, standing with you, standing with your families,” Gov. Ned Lamont said
The proposal comes after a Minn. shooting that killed two police officers and a paramedic, where wounded officers were rescued using an armored vehicle purchased in 2008
The measure would have asked voters to “increase and maintain” the number of patrol officers using marijuana tax revenue and cash from the city’s general fund
Police will be able to ticket a driver who is handling their phone for almost any reason; drivers can still use their phone to make calls if they are using it hands-free
The Court ruled that a forfeiture hearing must be timely, but the Constitution does not require a separate hearing about whether police may keep the property in the meantime
Until the law goes into effect in January, workers’ compensation claims must be tied to a physical injury on duty
The move follows similar bans in Colorado and California and rejections of the diagnosis by the American Medical Association and National Association of Medical Examiners
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 resolutions address concerns that the city of Lancaster’s “Welcome City” ordinance will lead to immigration issues spilling into local communities
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
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
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 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
Animals
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
SWAT
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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- Federal prosecutors intend to retry officer in Breonna Taylor case following mistrial