Gordon Graham
Category: Law Enforcement

Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. And Today’s Tip deals with law enforcement and civil liability.

Do your job as you were trained and then document your proper conduct post-event to minimize your liability exposure.

For the past several decades, there has been so much talk about police liability that it seems like it is a part of every law enforcement conversion. Liability this and liability that. And there is a time and place for that discussion.

But worrying about civil liability while engaged in intense, physical, life-threatening struggle is not one of them. I wonder how many law enforcement officers over the years have been needlessly injured or killed because they failed to take appropriate action due to the fear of liability.

Folks, there are two primary times to be focused on civil liability. The first is pre-event. Take your training seriously. Learn your policies. Know your limits within the law, so you can instantly respond when reasonably necessary. Second is post-event. Write the comprehensive reports, provide the interviews and collect the evidence you need to prove your proper conduct.

Do your job as you were trained and then document your proper conduct post-event to minimize your liability exposure.

And that is Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Gordon Graham signing off.