Over the last two decades law enforcement agencies and individual law enforcement officers in the United States have been the subject of intense public scrutiny. The litigious condition of American society has been a key factor in this scrutiny. The very nature of police work, i.e. use of force, high-speed driving and pursuits and arrest lends itself to complaints and lawsuits from those that law enforcement officer have contact with.  

Law enforcement officers must have a working knowledge of developing laws relating to police liability and discipline. Officers must be aware that they may be held accountable for decisions made by a court having jurisdiction over them. It is the developing law that guides police training, operations, individual conduct and operations. A failure to recognize the importance of this area of the law can lead to serious monetary consequences for individual police officers, supervisors, police executives and police agencies. In extreme cases, a failure to follow the rules set forth by the courts can result in criminal sanctions. 

This training is structured to assist officers and agencies in assessing their level of legal risk-exposure by examining court decisions that have interpreted acceptable standards of conduct by officers. 

Overview of Legal Developments: 

• How Police Procedures are Changing, Body Cameras, Cell Phones, Social Media. 
• Why Are We Getting Sued? 
• How Use of Force Changed and Nothing has Changed? 
• Social Media Do’s, Don’ts and the Impact. 
• Supervisor Liability 
• Qualified Immunity 
• Emerging Legal Trends: What is the Supreme Court saying? Has the court decisions changed what we do? How does policy and training have to change?