3 court cases shed light on this complex question
Do Police Officers Have a Legal Obligation to Use De-Escalation Tactics?
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Category: Use of Force
Supreme Court Reverses 9th Circuit on Qualified Immunity (Again!)
Yet another 9th Circuit ruling involving qualified immunity is reversed by the Supreme Court
No Qualified Immunity for Officers Who Shot Escaped Hostage
Qualified immunity is not applicable when there are genuine unresolved material facts.
American Sign Language-Interpreted Warnings Sufficient for Qualified Immunity
[vc_section css=".vc_custom_1540328728009{padding-top: 3em !important;padding-bottom: 3em !important;}" el_class="container"][vc_column width="2/3"]Muschette v. Gionfriddo, 2018 (2nd Cir. 2018) A.M., a deaf 12-year-old, became agitated over a food order at school. He...
Repeated TASER Device Applications Didn’t Rise to Excessive Force
Court grants summary judgment to officer following confrontation with armed, screaming, drug-influenced man
Learning from Leeroy Jenkins: The Importance of a Law Enforcement Incident Action Plan
An officer’s willingness to think, slow down and communicate is key to avoiding a tragedy
Why So Many Shots Fired? Understanding Police Officer Reaction Time to Stop Shooting
Understanding reaction time and perception-reaction time is critical when evaluating why police officers often fire multiple rounds.
Countering the Critics: Responses to Common Arguments about Police Use of Deadly Force
In the rush to judgment that happens after use of force incidents, law enforcement leaders face a deluge of criticism over department policies and officer actions.
Exactly Who Creates the Need for Deadly Force?
[vc_section css=".vc_custom_1540328728009{padding-top: 3em !important;padding-bottom: 3em !important;}" el_class="container"][vc_column width="2/3"]Inclusive in the current insanity gripping our nation is the notion that courts should focus on how police officers are...
Police Use of Force Legislation: The (Un)Intended Consequences of CA AB931
[vc_section css="vc_custom_1525482743015{padding-bottom: 3em !important;}" el_class="container"]With the introduction of California Assembly Bill 931 (AB931), voters in California have an important choice to make: Allow politicians to advance hastily written,...
Police Use of Force: Reality vs. Law
[vc_section css="vc_custom_1525482743015{padding-bottom: 3em !important;}" el_class="container"]Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in The Chief’s Chronicle; New York State Association of Chiefs of Police. Reprinted with permission. In my two prior...
Imperfect Recall: How Memory Impacts Police Use of Force Investigations
[vc_section css="vc_custom_1525482743015{padding-bottom: 3em !important;}" el_class="container"]Human beings, regardless of training and experience, are not robots. They have unique physical attributes, states of health and life experiences that shape the context in...