What Are Bylaws? Bylaws are the rules and procedures for the organization’s board of directors and members to follow to manage the operations of the organization. What Are Bylaws For? They provide guidance and direction to the board of directors and/or its members on...
One of the most common questions individuals have when contemplating divorce is regarding alimony or spousal support. In California, alimony is referred to as spousal support; it seems, in part, to get rid of the stigma behind the term alimony. Spousal support is designed to ensure that the lower-wage earning spouse is able to maintain a comparable lifestyle when divorced. For those getting...
The prolific use of smartphones with recording capabilities and social media has enabled the public to record police activities. While most police contacts are professional and without incident, this practice has allowed the public to catch some police activities and situations that raise community concerns about police misconduct. These recordings have led to the public demanding changes from...
Unfortunately, it may come to pass that at some point in your career, that there is no easy, clear choice on a decision to be made. An instance that merits discussion is when an officer is facing potential criminal charges for on-duty conduct. The difficult decision comes when an officer under criminal investigation or has real criminal exposure is faced with the decision of making a voluntary...
In the case of an officer-involved shooting (OIS), it is better to be prepared and to know what to expect. Read these ten tips so you are ready for the worst-case scenario. 1. Know What Your Department OIS Policy is Are you allowed to watch your body cam footage? Does your department conduct its own investigation? Is there a set amount of time prior to you giving a statement? Thoroughly read...
How many of you have ever fought with your spouse… not because of what you said, but how you said it? After a few of those fights, you start to figure out that how you say things matters, even if the words basically mean the same thing. The same is true in the law. That is why you must be sure to use the correct verbiage when you want to invoke your interrogation rights under the so-called...
Unfortunately, it may come to pass at some point in your career; there is no easy, clear choice on a decision to make. An instance that merits discussion is when an officer faces potential criminal charges for on-duty conduct. The difficult decision comes when an officer under criminal investigation, or has real criminal exposure is faced with the decision of making a voluntary statement or...
What is Qualified Immunity? Qualified immunity is a judicial doctrine that protects state actors from liability in certain instances. Qualified immunity was created by several U.S. Supreme Court cases, most significantly Harlow v. Fitzgerald, Saucier v. Katz, and Pearson v. Callahan. Qualified immunity protects government officials from being held personally liable under federal law for conduct...
A “Public Safety Statement” is a statement an officer is required to give immediately after being involved in an officer-involved shooting, or other critical incident. It is important that officers understand what a “Public Safety Statement” is, and what it is not, so they can provide the best “Public Safety Statement” and preserve their rights going forward. “Public Safety Statements” are given...