Practical case law analysis, officer-safety guidance, and legal updates written for today's law enforcement professionals.
231 articles
Retired FBI Agent and Award-Winning Author Joe Navarro once said that the ability to notice and interpret behaviors requires constant practice and attention to detail; otherwise, the skill atrophies. In the realm of law enforcement, specifically proactive policing tactics, this could not be more true. As a current Sergeant over a proactive vice crimes/crime suppression unit,
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By Jessica Walsh, Legal Instructor, Blue to Gold Prosecutors are often asked, “What is the single most important thing an officer can do to prepare for courtroom testimony?” The answer most frequently given is simple: just tell the truth. While accurate, it is rarely helpful as most officers already intend to do exactly that. Is
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Probably yes, but you have to run the four factors. Proximity and use are the two that matter. Enclosure and sight screening are optional, not mandatory.
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Should parents or guardians be contacted and asked for permission to speak with their child before questioning the juvenile in Ohio? Short answer: It depends. Best practice: Yes. To better understand the rules involving juveniles in Ohio and how to handle juvenile encounters, officers are encouraged to review Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2151 and the
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The Emergency Aid Doctrine: A Narrow Exception to the Warrant Requirement Where Home Entry is Urgently Needed to Prevent Imminent Harm The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, with common law recognizing the greatest privacy interest within the sanctity of one’s home. Aside from consent provided by someone with
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Drones are now part of the Fourth Amendment analysis, whether we like it or not. In training, this often comes up as a thought exercise: imagine being in an urban environment, looking out your window, and seeing a government drone hovering nearby. If that drone can see into a backyard and potentially observe evidence of
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As proactive officers today in law enforcement, there are more obstacles to overcome daily in our efforts to interdict the criminal element than there have ever been. Why do some officers discourage proactive police work? Many of these obstacles are from outside influences. However, some of them, sadly enough, come from inside the walls of
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If the gun is lawful there is no probable cause and no motor vehicle exception. A protective sweep needs facts showing danger, and a locked safe arguably cuts the other way.
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Cops are being taught that a 1991 case makes this routine. It does not. The test is whether a reasonable person believes they can ignore you, and almost nobody ignores a lawful-sounding order.
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