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
After the Washington Supreme Court ruled against them, the officers contend that their off-duty political activity does not justify public exposure or disciplinary action
The officer should have obliged when Johnny Hollman asked to talk with a supervisor instead of signing a ticket after a minor crash in August 2023, the board said in its ruling
The Lexington police union argues the 2021 ban ignored collective bargaining agreements and put officers at greater risk
Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner told Congress that sanctuary policies block deputies from honoring ICE detainers for individuals who pose a threat to community safety
Michael McMahon was convicted in 2023 of contributing to a transcontinental pressure campaign; the tactics ranged from Facebook messages to a threatening note on the man’s door
Torrington Police Department Sgt. Gerald “Jay” Peters saw the suspect resisting officers by trying to hit them with his elbow and kicking them in the shins, according to the ruling
The city alleges that the new law violates a provision of the Missouri Constitution that prohibits unfunded mandates from the state
“There are a million things I should have done better that night,” Andrew Buen, who was convicted of criminally negligent homicide in the case, said before sentencing
Mikal Mahdi admitted to shooting Orangeburg Officer James Myers eight times before burning his body in a shed in 2004
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
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