The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has recently made a very interesting ruling on the seizure of a citizen in 4th Amendment context when police officers turn on their patrol vehicle's emergency lights. In March, 2019 the 10th Circuit ruled officers turning on their patrol vehicle emergency lights, and approaching a citizen in full uniform, constituted a seizure in … [Read more...]
Concealed Carry: A New Legal Consideration!
The United States 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has recently ruled in a firearms-related case that will have broad applications in regards to police and concealed carry citizen encounters. The ruling in U.S. v. Robinson (2017) specifically addresses the meaning of "armed and dangerous" in the context of the famous U.S. Supreme Court case of Terry v. Ohio (1968). Though many may … [Read more...]
Deadly Force on Mentally Ill: Johnson v. City of Philadelphia
The United States 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals recently made a ruling on an officer's use of deadly force against a person suffering a mental disorder. The outcome of this case is extremely important for law enforcement officers not only in the U.S. 3rd Circuit, but across the nation. The U.S. 3rd Circuit has jurisdiction over Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the U.S. … [Read more...]
Utah v. Strieff: Admissible Evidence From Unlawful Stop
The BlueSheepDog Crew are committed to bringing our readers up-to-date posts on the tactics, training, firearms, and equipment used by today's law enforcement professionals. Part of that commitment has been our posting key judicial rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court and the Federal Appellate Courts. Our hope is the information will be reviewed by officers for insight and … [Read more...]
U.S. Supreme Court: Warrantless DUI Blood Draws Unlawful
The United States Supreme Court (USSC) has just issued a ruling in consideration of the application of Implied Consent laws when collecting a blood sample to determine a suspect's blood alcohol concentration (BAC). In a decision that will have a significant impact on every law enforcement agency in America, the Supreme Court has ruled warrantless blood draws violated the 4th … [Read more...]
U.S. 10th Circuit: Taser Drive-Stuns Can Be Excessive Force
The United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has recently decided the case of Perea v. Baca and City of Albuquerque. The result will likely have widespread impact on officers across the country. The excessive force lawsuit against Albuquerque, New Mexico police officers was based on the officers use of a TASER™, mostly in "drive-stun" mode, during their attempt to subdue a … [Read more...]
U.S. v. Daniel: Probable Cause to Search Motor Vehicles
On January 5th, 2016, the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals decided the case of United States v. Daniel, providing an excellent review concerning police officers use of probable cause and the automobile exception to the warrant requirement. This case is particularly important in clarifying the legal requirements of officers searching a motor vehicle at a stop location. When … [Read more...]
The Threat of Drones to Law Enforcement
Drones, or [easyazon_link identifier="1848211279" locale="US" tag="bluesheecom-20"]unmanned aerial vehicles[/easyazon_link] (UAV) may have only come into the common lexicon in the last few years, but they are rapidly becoming a major concern for the public and law enforcement. Previously, the idea of drones was left to science-fiction movies, but the potential uses of a drone … [Read more...]
Krause v. Redford Police Department: Flashbangs and Excessive Force
This case is a little over a year old, but the decision of the United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals should send a serious wake-up call to law enforcement tactical teams across the nation. At issue was the use of "flash bangs" and automatic firearms in the apprehension of a wanted felon who engaged officers and the community with gunfire. Though the 6th Circuit covers … [Read more...]
Maresca v. Fuentes – Typing Error Leads to Excessive Force
The United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against law enforcement officers claiming Qualified Immunity in the case of Maresca v. Fuentes. The case involves a Deputy Sheriff entering the wrong license plate number into their patrol car's mobile data terminal (MDT), resulting in a false alert to a stolen vehicle. The deputies performed a high risk car stop, … [Read more...]