The Story Behind Miranda Rights AZ Lawyer 2022-07-04 | Every cop has said them. Every deputy, trooper, patrolman, detective, and LEO has been told their importance. But why those words? What happened that changed the rules of interrogations forever? This video is all about the incident that created the most famous words every policeman knows. Check it out!
Redacting an Officers Image from Public Record AZ Lawyer 2024-10-14 | Did you know that Arizona State law allows police, deputies and troopers to request that their face be removed from videos and images accessible to the public? That's right! in fact, any cop or LEO can ask that a judge issue an order to do just that. These simple steps in this video can help any department, administrator, or law enforcement officer to better protect the men and women who serve their communities and their families.
DOJ Phoenix Report - #U10 - The Domestic Violence Incident AZ Lawyer 2024-09-30 | This video addresses an allegation by the United States Department of Justice that the Phoenix Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing related to officers responding to a man engaged in domestic violence offenses.
Brady List - Common Misconceptions AZ Lawyer 2024-09-30 | What is the Brady list? How do you end up on the Brady list? Is the Brady list a list of liars? Can I get fired for being placed on the Brady list? This video addresses some common misconceptions officers and others may have about the Brad List.
DOJ Phoenix Report - #U34 - Pepperball AZ Lawyer 2024-09-25 | This video addresses an allegation by the United States Department of Justice that the Phoenix Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing related to officers deploying a pepper ball gun while responding to a call involving behavior health problems
US vs. Nora - Residential Callouts AZ Lawyer 2024-09-16 | US vs. Nora is a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals case involving residential callouts. This is one that changed law enforcement's approach to surrounding and calling out suspects in a big way. Check out the video!
DOJ Phoenix Report - #U01 - Matthew Begay AZ Lawyer 2024-09-10 | This video addresses an allegation by the United States Department of Justice that the Phoenix Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing related to an officer involved shooting involving Matthew Begay while responding to a call involving behavior health problems.
Chong and Tran vs US - 4th Amendment Violations AZ Lawyer 2024-09-09 | In Chong and Tran v. United States, the Ninth Circuit faced a case involving a warrantless search that led to drug and gun charges against Chong and his nephew, Tran. Deputies conducted a search after spotting Tran tossing methamphetamine. Despite initially ruling against suppression, the court later revisited the case, acknowledging the search violated the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches. Why? Check out the video!
DOJ Phoenix Report - #U04 - James Garcia AZ Lawyer 2024-09-05 | This video addresses an allegation by the United States Department of Justice that the Phoenix Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing related to an officer involved shooting involving James Garcia while responding to a call involving threats.James Garcia Incident Records:dojrecords.phoenix.gov/details/U04Phoenix Transparency Site:dojrecords.phoenix.govDOJ Report:justice.gov/d9/2024-06/Phoenix%20Findings%20Report%20Final%20-%20Final%20508.pdf
Chinaryan vs. the City of Los Angeles AZ Lawyer 2024-09-02 | This one is all about high risk stops. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has made a decision that might affect how police officers approach vehicles they have reasonable suspicion it might be stolen. Check out the video!
DOJ Phoenix Report - #U08 - Jacob Harris AZ Lawyer 2024-08-28 | This video addresses an allegation by the United States Department of Justice that the Phoenix Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing related to an officer involved shooting involving Jacob Harris and a group of individuals linked to armed robbery in the Phoenix Metro.Jacob Harris Incident Records:dojrecords.phoenix.gov/details/U08Phoenix Transparency Site:dojrecords.phoenix.govDOJ Report:justice.gov/d9/2024-06/Phoenix%20Findings%20Report%20Final%20-%20Final%20508.pdf
United States v. Anderson AZ Lawyer 2024-08-26 | United States versus Anderson is a 2024 9th Circuit Court of Appeals case out of San Bernardino County, California. We hate to be the ones to bring this up, but please start following your inventory search policies to the letter. No cop, deputy, trooper, or other LEO wants an entire (otherwise good) case thrown out because of this shortsighted move. Check out the video for more!
Critical Incident Effects on Family AZ Lawyer 2024-08-19 | If you or a loved on need help following a critical incident, reach out to AZCOPS at (888) 622-2215. Law enforcement officers prepare for the likelihood of a critical incident from the time they go through an academy. Sheriff's Deputies, State Troopers, and Local Police are all aware of the potential that they may face, and have to overcome, a deadly situation in their career. Many families of cops are aware of the risks involved as well, however, the reality of the situation is often very different when it arrives. If an officer is involved in a use of deadly force, the impact to their family runs the risk of being overlooked. This week, we will explore best practices to ensure law enforcement families are taken care of in the event of a critical incident. Check it out!
NEW Lights on Personal Vehicles! AZ Lawyer 2024-08-12 | Off duty work is becoming more common in law enforcement than ever before. Part of that has been needing to use officer's personal vehicles as a part of traffic control. We did a video on why adding those lights was a violation of Arizona law. And listen, it's not that we wanted to be a buzzkill… But eventually, some unsuspecting cop was going to get in trouble for it. But rejoice deputies wanting to sit in a construction site overnight for double your salary! Troopers who… actually they usually get to use the department vehicle so never mind. For the rest of you, things are changing soon. But please, please, please, don't try to pull people over in your personal car. Okay thanks. Check out the video!
How to Leave Your Agency AZ Lawyer 2024-08-05 | We've seen it over and over again: An officer want to move to another agency for any number of reasons, and ends up in major hot water for their effort. With laws and regulations governing hiring LE in Arizona, It's important that law enforcement personnel prepare themselves for the move between departments. Check out the video for more information!
United States v. Payne (5th Amendment and Phone Biometrics) AZ Lawyer 2024-07-29 | US v Payne is a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals case involving the involuntary use of biometric information to gain access to cell phones. This opinion helps shed light on whether or not officers are able to use a suspects thumb print or face to unlock a phone that the cop has a warrant for. Check it out.
Meinecke v. Seattle (1st Amendment Restrictions) AZ Lawyer 2024-07-22 | Meinecke v Seattle is a 2024 9th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion involving @matthewmeinecke an evangelist, and the City of Seattle. The opinion comes after Matthew sued the City of Seattle for multiple arrests after he was asked to leave public spaces while reading aloud from his bible.
US v. Ramirez - Officer Safety Questions AZ Lawyer 2024-07-15 | US v. Ramirez is a 9th Circuit case related to police officer safety questions on a traffic stop. Every cop knows that there is a balance between ensuring the safety of law enforcement officers, and the rights of people legally stopped. Highway patrol troopers, sheriff's deputies, and city cops are constantly trying to do the right thing while ensuring they go home safely. This case adds tools that can ensure officers know where the limits are. Check it out.
Grants Pass v Johnson - Public Camping Laws AZ Lawyer 2024-07-08 | Martin v Boise set a lot of the western United States into chaos. Most places did not have the resources to "care for" a homeless population, so police officers were restricted from enforcing many public camping laws. This led to tent cities, increased crime, and a serious decrease in quality of life for people throughout the 9th Circuit. Grants Pass v Johnson sets things right! If you're a law enforcement officer who has to take enforcement action for public camping laws, this video is for you. If you're a citizen who isn't a fan of used needles on your street, this video is for you too. Check it out!
The Department of Justice Phoenix Report is Filled with Lies AZ Lawyer 2024-07-01 | We can prove it! Every cop in the United States should pay attention to this. There is no sheriff's department or local pd safe from a DOJ that fabricates evidence and misquotes subjects. We did a deep dive into the Department of Justice report into Phoenix, and it's WAY WORSE than we thought. Phoenicians should fight back against this massive attempt on law and order in Arizona. Check out the video to see why!
The D.O.J. Released the Phoenix Report AZ Lawyer 2024-06-13 | The U.S. Department of Justice just released their report into the Phoenix Police Department. The only problem? The report is inaccurate. Like so many cities before Phoenix, the DOJ is hoping to bully city leaders into cooperation, without releasing proof of the allegations made.
Train for Danger AZ Lawyer 2024-06-10 | Law enforcement officers are used to having additional restrictions placed on them when it comes to high liability skills and incidents. It only takes a few minutes to pull up a video of a search warrant raid from the 90s to see that things have changed drastically. In many agencies, cops can't even pursue stolen vehicles without some other aggravating factor. While there might be good reasons for some of those restrictions, there is another side effect that is far more dangerous. Many of the skills utilized in those "high risk" situations are simply not being trained anymore. This video explores why "training for danger" can actual ensure less liability in the long run. Check it out!
Sanctity of Life Policies are Bad AZ Lawyer 2024-06-03 | If you were in law enforcement during the 2019-2020 riots, you probably remember the absolute insanity that protesters and some politicians were screeching for. Defund the police, all cops are b*****ds, etc. In response some agency leaders tried to changed the language of their policy to virtue signal how much the police valued life. This video explores why the language used in those changes are not just worthless, but detrimental to law enforcement. Check out the video.
City of Ontario v. Quon AZ Lawyer 2024-05-27 | We say it, your supervisor said it, everyone has said it. Be careful with what you do and say on government devices. It's a tale as old as time and this case is proof. Even before police department issued phones, officers were using beepers to get themselves in trouble! By now, every cop, deputy, state trooper, or other LEO has heard of a time someone got in trouble with their work phone. But City of Ontario versus Quon is an interesting case about… pagers! Check it out!
Shift Briefings AZ Lawyer 2024-05-20 | Every police officer, sheriff's deputy, state trooper and other LEO knows just how tedious a boring shift briefing can be. But it doesn't have to be that way. Briefings play an important part in making sure a squad or shift are on the same page. This video addresses briefings and how to do them right. Supervisors pay special attention. Check out the video!
Were Suing Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos AZ Lawyer 2024-05-13 | AZCOPS is suing the Sheriff of Pima County, Chris Nanos. AZCOPS has always been dedicated to protecting our member's 1st Amendment rights (as well as all the other rights). We've even argued in front of the 9th Circuit for those rights. When a local labor group leader voiced personal opinions on a local radio show, a competing labor group wasn't happy. Nanos agreed to take actions that AZCOPS argues violates our members rights under the 1st Amendment. Check out the video for more information!
Officer Star Johnson - The Forgotten Phoenix Officer AZ Lawyer 2024-05-06 | Officer Johnson Officer Down Memorial Page:@/24957-police-officer-david-lee-star-johnsonPhoenix Police Department David Lee "Star" Johnson Story:@Officer David Lee "Star" Johnson was killed in the line of duty on May 2, 1944. So why was Officer Johnson not recognized as a line of duty death for the Phoenix Police Department for nearly 80 years? This video explores the facts surrounding the death of Officer Johnson and the steps the Phoenix Police Department has taken to fix this nearly 80 year mistake. Check out the video!
Do Police Leaders Care? AZ Lawyer 2024-04-29 | Far too often, police officers feel that their law enforcement agencies do not care about them. State troopers, sheriff's deputies and every LEO deserves to be heard and treated fairly by their administrators and first line supervisors. So what is causing cops in so many jurisdictions to feel unappreciated by their leadership? How can agency leaders ensure that their staff know they are valued? How can local union leadership help members identify and communicate problems to chiefs and supervisors? Check out the video for more.
First Year Employees AZ Lawyer 2024-04-22 | Pretty much every law enforcement officer in Arizona started their career as a probationary employee. That part of a police officer's career when every decision is weighed against their fledgling career. So what does it mean for a sheriff's deputy, state trooper or other LEO to be a probationary employee? What actions are administrators allowed to take against you? What protections do you have? We answer these questions in our video! Check it out!
Syncing Personal Phones to Government Vehicles AZ Lawyer 2024-04-15 | As agencies update their fleets, and more officers are familiar with the technology allowing phones and vehicles to communicate (no pun intended), new considerations pop up that police need to be aware of. This video addresses an issue that just about every member of the LEO profession might encounter, even if a sheriff's deputy or state trooper doesn't have any cell service in most places they patrol. Check it out!
Open versus closed hearings AZ Lawyer 2024-04-08 | Learn the difference between an open and closed hearing - things you should think about when you file an appeal of disciplinary action. Unfortunately, law enforcement officers sometimes find themselves needing to appeal discipline. There have been many examples of police officers, sheriff's deputies, state troopers, corrections officers, and other LEOs needing to go through the process. It can be daunting. This video will help with expectations and differences between an open hearing and a closed hearing. Check it out!
The Benefits of Attending AZCOPS Training AZ Lawyer 2024-04-01 | AZCOPS is dedicated to upholding the due process rights of Arizona law enforcement officers. AZCOPS members are made up of police officers, sheriff's deputies, probation officers, corrections officers, and many other LEO and LE adjacent individuals across the state. Those members contribute employee representatives for local responsibilities. This video will help explain the structure of AZCOPS as and organization and the importance of leaders, reps, and members attending trainings to bolster their knowledge of important topics. Check it out!
United States v. Parr AZ Lawyer 2024-03-25 | U.S. v. Parr is a 9th Circuit case involving a Portland police officer and warrantless searches. But, the case also answers the question "Is sitting a suspect in my unit an arrest?" This question is especially to Highway Troopers, Sheriff's Deputies, and any other cop or LEO who might be faced with multiple suspects or suspicious circumstances. Check it out!
Can You Appeal an AZPOST Decision? AZ Lawyer 2024-03-18 | AZCOPS represents officers all over the state. Often times, the situation is handled at the local level. But sometimes, Cops, Deputies, State Troopers, or other LEO's have a much longer disciplinary journey. After appeals, presentations, and many hours of work. Arizona peace officers might find themselves in front of AZPOST. In those cases, the AZPOST Board may decide it's necessary to suspend or revoke certifications. But what if an officer thinks AZPOST made their decision in error? What is the appeals process? This video will answer that very question! Check it out!
Local Organizations! AZ Lawyer 2024-03-11 | For the best client representation, AZCOPS partners with local organizations all over Arizona. LEOs know their home agency better than anyone! If a police officer, sheriff's deputy, or state trooper needs a rep, who better to help than a team of the best police attorneys in Arizona and a friend from work? Local organization leaders have valuable insight into their communities and are absolutely essential to ensuring cops have a voice in their departments. We should show you how to form a local group right? Check the video out! Visit http://www.azcops.org for more information!
How to be a Good Peer Representative AZ Lawyer 2024-03-04 | Police officers facing IA investigations should not go to interviews alone. This video provides tips for local organization LEOs on how to handle internal investigations - and in particular - the importance of peer representation. cops, sheriff's deputies, and most kinds of law enforcement facing a professional standards interview have the right under Arizona state law to bring a fellow officer as a witness to their interview. Check out the video!
Booking Forms in Arizona AZ Lawyer 2024-02-26 | If you've been in law enforcement for more than 20 minutes, you've probably experienced the frustration of having a high risk, or violent offender, be released the day after an arrest. Deputies, state troopers, local police officers, no one is immune to the situation. But did you know there are actually things you can do to minimize the likelihood of that scenario? From including relevant misdemeanors on your Form IV, to contacting your local prosecutor directly, and more, you have more control than you think! Check out the video for more!
Political Representation for Law Enforcement AZ Lawyer 2024-02-19 | Law enforcement officers have a lot on their plate. Cops everywhere are stretched thin and working hard to keep their communities safe. State troopers, sheriff's deputies, and corrections officers are no exceptions either. So keeping up with politics can sometimes be a daunting task. So is there anything an LEO can do to ensure that their interests are protected from politicians who want to harm the profession in order to grandstand? Oh yeah there is! Join AZCOPS. This video explores why it is important that officers join an organization that looks out for them in the legislature. It also highlights a specific bill (HB2432) that is INSANE in its approach to law enforcement and treatment of violent offenders. Links to the bill:@izona-house-bill-2432-peace-officer-violence-victims-rights/2481069/@/56leg/2R/bills/sb1074p.pdf
Snitko v. United States AZ Lawyer 2024-02-12 | Law enforcement has certain rules that govern how officers handle individual situations. Unfortunately, police officers, sheriff's deputies, state troopers, and other LEOs make mistakes. But sometimes, it's the feds (FBI in this case) that make the mistake. Actually that's not all that uncommon. Snitko v. United States is a 2024 decision by the 9th district and deals with the inventory search exception to the warrant rule. Check out the video for more!
AZPOST Changes Marijuana Requirements AZ Lawyer 2024-02-05 | Marijuana went from a felony in Arizona to recreationally legal FAST. As a result, law enforcement, and its governing body, AZPOST, have had to change their outlook on the drug. Cops, sheriff deputies, state troopers, jail and prison guards, and other LE personnel have experienced a sudden change in the outlook and social acceptance of marijuana in the past few years. Because of a large increase in users (It's legal after all), AZPOST has had to adjust how it approaches marijuana use in applicants AND inactive officers. Check out the video for more info!
Dont Use Your Government Email! AZ Lawyer 2024-01-29 | This video talks about personal email accounts vs. government email accounts. Additionally, this video explains that government and work emails should be used exclusively for work purposes. Police Officers, detectives, deputies, and detention officers all have government emails which should be used for work purposes. Check out the video!
Brigham City v. Stuart AZ Lawyer 2024-01-22 | Brigham City v. Stuart is a 2006 United States Supreme Court case involving police officers entering homes without a warrant. This case is specific to law enforcement exigency when entering homes to stop physical violence or threats of. Every city cop, sheriff's deputy, state trooper, or other LEO needs to know when they can, and can't, enter a home, especially if it involves preventing physical harm! Check out the video!
Consent Searches With Multiple Occupants AZ Lawyer 2024-01-15 | Law enforcement officers find themselves in unique situations all of the time. It could be a sheriff's deputy, state trooper, local police officer, or constable. Each LEO has found themselves facing situations that seem complicated or may have not been covered in the academy or FTO. This weeks video will look at consent searches involving residences. Specifically involving multiple occupants and the question of conflicting consent. He says yes, she says no, does the cop stay? Or should the cop go? Check out the video!
State of Arizona v. Soza AZ Lawyer 2024-01-08 | The State of Arizona v. Soza is a 2020 AZ Court of Appeals case involving drug paraphernalia charges. Law enforcement officers spend a lot of their time finding dangerous drugs and narcotics. Sheriff's deputies, state troopers, city cops, jail staff, and every other kind of LEO come across drugs on a more than regular basis. State v. Soza helps officers to understand what charges may be appropriate when drug paraphernalia is found on a suspect. Check out the video!
Conflicts in Representation AZ Lawyer 2024-01-01 | Many law enforcement incidents that require AZCOPS assistance involve multiple officers. Police officers, sheriffs deputies, and state troopers work with their peers on a daily basis, so it's no surprise that their co-workers would end up in the same investigation, or critical incident. So what happens when there is a conflict for an attorney? What even qualifies as a conflict? Check this video out for those answers!
Lange v. California AZ Lawyer 2023-12-25 | Lange v. California is a US Supreme Court case involving warrantless entry into a home when pursing a misdemeanor suspect. Officers, Deputies, and Troopers are expected to have a good grasp on where their authority may end when pursing a suspect. This case does a great job of helping anyone working in law enforcement to understand what may, or may not, constitute an emergency when related to LE functions. Check it out!
What is AZCOPS? AZ Lawyer 2023-12-18 | AZCOPS stands for the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs. This video will help explain what exactly AZCOPS is and what we do for our members. many law enforcement officers know the name AZCOPS, and may even be members! But it's important to us that cops have a good understanding of what exactly AZCOPS does for those members and their families. Deputies, officers, and troopers, as well as other LE, dispatchers, etc are always welcome with AZCOPS. Check out the video! LINK TO LEGAL PLAN: azcops.org/why-join#info
Starting and Stopping Off Duty Jobs AZ Lawyer 2023-12-11 | Off duty jobs have become popular in the law enforcement community. Cops, sheriff's deputies, and troopers everywhere have taken advantage of the request for certified LEOs by private organizations. This is a benefit to police officers and can be a great thing in their lives. However, with these new situations, new questions and scenarios have arose. We did a video about having lights in a personal vehicle for off duty jobs. This week, we want to address when an officer may want to check on, and off, from an off duty job, and why. Check it out!
Do Not Sign AZ Lawyer 2023-12-04 | The rights of officers are incredibly important to us here at AZCOPS. Many law enforcement officers don't realize that the interest of their agency or municipality doesn't always align with what is best for the cop's career. When a deputy, trooper, or other LEO is already dealing with internal issues, and AZCOPS is contacted, utilize the resource. Departments may attempt to get officers to sign documents or put in memos, often downplaying the impact the paper could have on his/her job status. Check out this weeks video for the best advice when dealing with these issues.
Recording at Work AZ Lawyer 2023-11-27 | Police officers often wonder if they should make a surreptitious recording. Can you secretly tape the sheriff? If you are interviewed by internal affairs, should you make a copy of the IA interview yourself? This video answers these important questions.
Training Priorities for Law Enforcement Agencies AZ Lawyer 2023-11-20 | Law enforcement as a profession requires a tremendous amount of training. Cops have sat through class after class to get into the field. Every sheriff's deputy, state trooper, and city cop everywhere has struggled not to fall asleep through powerpoints. With the academy and continuing education, are all trainings created equally? Hint: they are not. With LE agencies struggling to maintain training requirements, what should be prioritized? This weeks video will address what administrators should focus on when picking what trainings to host or send staff to.
