Law Enforcement Liability

Potential liability is an ever-present reality for law enforcement officers and agencies. Over the last decade, liability claims have risen sharply, making it a $3.2 billion industry—fueled by increased public awareness and scrutiny of police actions that can lead to constitutional violations and misconduct. In addition to community-facing claims, agencies and supervisors are seeing more lawsuits from within their own ranks, involving issues like harassment, freedom of speech, and disciplinary actions. This course provides officers—and especially supervisors, training officers, and command staff—with a comprehensive overview of the most common types of liability in both criminal and civil courts. Students will leave the course with the knowledge and tools to prevent, recognize, and mitigate potential liability risks.