Category: Use of Force

What a sad, horrifying and bizarre way to begin 2012. From a media standpoint, there has been a lot of news to cover. A young mother shot and killed an intruder in Oklahoma, LEOs in…

As you “undeck the halls,” defy gravity on ladders taking down lights and plot a strategy to stay off the naughty list next year, I’d like to take a few moments of your time to…

After 23 years in law enforcement, I’ve attended a bunch of classes. I’ve also taught a bunch of classes relating to everything from basic law enforcement to on-scene response to the Georgia Association of Law…

Over the past 20 years, defensive tactics have come a long way. Incorporating real world statistics and video footage of attacks on LEOs, instructors have changed the way LEOs respond to threats. Encouraging LEOs to…

Last week, we were inundated with news stories and commentaries about the execution of a convicted cop killer. In my post last week, I allowed you to read the course of the appeals and the…

I love the practice of law. I am honored and proud to be a member of a profession that takes an oath to zealously represent the rights of others. However, practicing law often means staying…

On July 19, 2011, a federal jury returned a $10,000,000 verdict against TASER International, Inc. I’ve received several calls and emails from LEOs about this verdict. Readers of Bluelinelawyer know that I believe in the…

When I was a kid, 100 was a goal. $100 was a lot of money. A 100% on a test meant you could not have scored any higher. As I got older, I realized that…

On Thursday , June 9, 2011, the United States Supreme Court released its opinion of  Sykes v. United States. The case settles a legal question that split federal circuits: Is the attempt to flee or…

“Here now the news.” The phrase made famous by Roger Grimsby and later parodied by Chevy Chase leads me to the topic of this post. The role of the media is as entrenched in our…