For years law enforcement officers have believed that their word would be believed.  That day is gone!  Four events have eroded what once was a quality we took for granted.  It is the actions of the few that is affecting [...]

On March 13, 2019, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decided Cruise-Gulyas v. Minard et al.[i], in which the court examined whether an officer violated the First and Fourth Amendments when he stopped a driver for giving him “the bird.” [...]

On February 27, 2019, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided the United States v. Burwell[i], in which the court examined whether the district court erred when it granted a motion to suppress in a vehicle consent search case.  The [...]

On February 14, 2019, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decided Naselroad v. Mabry[i], in which the court examined whether plainclothes officers were entitled to qualified immunity for a warrantless search and officer involved shooting that began as a knock [...]

On February 8, 2019, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decided the United States v. Richmond[i], in which the court examined whether tapping on the outside of a vehicles tire, to determine if the tire was concealing any objects inside, [...]

In July of this year the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit, ruled that a Baltimore police civil settlement ‘gag order’ was a violation of the Plaintiff’s First Amendment Right.  Ms. Overbey called to report a burglary and ended [...]

On February 14, 2019, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided the United States v. Adkinson[i], in which the court examined whether the Fourth Amendment was violated when T-Mobile conducted two cell tower dumps, searched cell site location information and [...]

On February 4, 2019, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided Baker v. Clements et al.[i], in which the court examined whether an officer used excessive force under the Fourth Amendment when he used closed-fist strikes (punches) on a suspect [...]

On January 14, 2019, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided the United States v. Triana[i], in which the court examined whether an officer impermissibly prolonged a traffic stop when he asked questions unrelated to the stop after returning all [...]

United States v. Campbell, No. 16-10128 (11th Cir. January 8, 2019) Held:  A stop is unlawfully prolonged when an officer, without reasonable suspicion, diverts from the stop's purpose and adds time to the stop in order to investigate other crimes. [...]