Officer Chat

Dealing with mentally ill persons is part of a police officer's job. These are encounters that occur frequently in the course of one's duty.

According to a survey conducted by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in 2006, 9.8% of adolescents from the age of 12 - 17 have admitted to using prescription drugs for nonmedical use.

Prescription drug abuse is so serious that is leads cocaine and methamphetamine use.

This month Val Van Brocklin continues to look at the long reach of Brady v. Md. Venture with her into the new litigation arena of failure to train officers in this complex area of law and all the attending consequences for departments and individual officers.

It's beneficial to know when the person you're questioning has decided to bolt.

The everyday heroism of showing up and steadfastly doing what is right escapes renown, but that is the foundation of building a legacy you will be proud of.

Sometimes a legacy of professional honor is better spent in the shadows, than one minute of shame is spent in the sun.

Did you know you could be civilly liable for failing to collect and preserve exculpatory evidence for the defendant?

The young cop was a fast rising star of unlimited potential. The old man reminds us even the brightest stars can implode.

In this 8th in a series of articles on police deception in investigating crimes, Val Van Brocklin offers some practical tips on how to train officers in this ethically and legally complex tactic.