In 2018, a case came out of the 7th Circuit[1] involving a wrongful death lawsuit filed against two Neenah police officers who shot and killed Michael Funk, an armed hostage, during a 2015 armed standoff. Neenah police officers Craig Hoffer and Robert Ross shot Funk after he escaped Eagle Nation Cycles where he and two others were being held hostage by gunman Brian Flatoff. […]
Hostage Shot During Armed Standoff – Liable? Continue Reading
Uses of Force cases have been a compelling issue for police officers. In our age of social media and a wide array of opinions on how police officers should operate it has become more difficult to do our jobs. What can make this topic an even more complicated one is that police officers are already under the gun, so to speak, so when an
You’re In My House: Examining Criminal Charges in Use of Force Incidents Continue Reading
Having an effective Off-Duty policy that provides guidance to officers on their legal responsibilities and required notifications has become essential. With this knowledge comes an important question: what happens if an officer is caught in the middle of a crime while they are off-duty? With current widespread animosity toward the police, officers may question if it is easier to avoid the altercation altogether. In
Off-Duty Officers and When to Intervene Continue Reading
Police use of force often results in negative media attention, civil suits, ridicule, and an emotionally charged community. These encounters are often captured on video and quickly go viral on the internet. As with police encounters involving citizens, attention to dog shooting incidents has increased creating more animosity toward law enforcement from the public. Headlines have show significant payouts for lawsuits resulting from shooting
Use of Deadly Force Against Man’s Best Friend Continue Reading
Over the past several years, law enforcement has endured a tremendous amount of external scrutiny. As part of that scrutiny, we have heard discussions on the difference between “warrior policing” and “guardian policing.” We have focused on identifying “internal” and “external” procedural justice to combat the warrior stereotype. There has been criticism over what is perceived as “warrior policing,” and a great deal of
There are few activities police officers do while conducting enforcement activities that give as much of an adrenaline rush other than a good car chase. One of the few experiences where your training, experience and ability all come together for the purpose of ensuring the apprehension of a suspect who committed a crime. Knowing this presented a challenge when writing this article. Experience has
Today, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Carpenter v. United States (No. 16-402), 585 US ____ (2018), holding that when the Government obtains access to historical cell-phone records that provide a chronicle of the user’s past movements, it constitutes a search under the Fourth Amendment. As such, the Government must generally obtain a warrant supported by probable cause before acquiring such
There are few activities police officers do while conducting enforcement activities that give as much of an adrenaline rush other than a good car chase. One of the few experiences where your training, experience and ability all come together for the purpose of ensuring the apprehension of a suspect who committed a crime. Knowing this presented a challenge when writing this article. Experience has
On June 18, 2018 the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Lozman v. City of Riviera Beach (No. 17-21), 585 US ____ (2018), holding that the existence of probable cause for an arrest, does not bar a First Amendment retaliation claim. In 2006, petitioner Fane Lozman (Lozman) towed his floating home into a slip in the City-owned marina, where he became a
On May 29, 2018, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Collins v. Virginia (No. 16-1027), 584 US ____ (2018), holding that the automobile exception does not permit an officer to conduct a warrantless entry into a home or its curtilage to conduct a vehicle search. On two occasions, two police Albemarle County police officers, working independently, attempted to stop a motorcycle