It's the Law! - Updated June 26, 2008 

The "Cardinal Principle of Police Use of Force restraint" is that "if it is not necessary to use more force, it is necessary not to use more force."

It is important for a jury to understand police procedures and training along with the underlying reasons officers are given that training.

To be reasonable, force has to be designed to accomplish a legitimate objective efficiently.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA et al. v. HELLER

"...the requirement that any lawful firearm in the home be disassembled or bound by a trigger lock makes it impossible for citizens to use arms for the core lawful purpose of self-defense and is hence unconstitutional."

Virginia v Moore PC Standard under the Fourth Amendment

Connecticut v Silva Interfering with Officer - Refused to Identify

Price v City of Portland Deadly Force Decision Training

Beaver v Federal Way - Multiple Uses of Taser defined as Excessive Force

1. State of Connecticut  v. Marti Stop & Identify OK

2. US v Berry Forced Exigent Entry ok

3. Aselton v East Hartford 911 Dispatch Negligence Denied

4. Melanson v West Hartford Tactical Entry friendly fire Shooting

5. Connecticut v Ramirez Off-duty Assault on Police Officer

6. Levandoski v Cone Fireman's Rule Negligence OK'd 

7. US v Davenport Terry Stop

8. State v Brunetti Warrantless Search

9. State V Brunetti Warrantless Consensual Search Standard Set

10. State V Brunetti Dissent

11. State v Brunetti 2nd Dissent

12. Georgia v Randolph Present Co-occupant Must Both Grant Permission for Warrantless Search

13. State v Ledbetter Show-up Identification Standard

14. Callum v. Colchester False Arrest Immunity

15. Riordan v. Joyner Felony Stop Force Immunity

16. Inturri v. Hartford Officer Personal Appearance tattoos

17. Cardona v. Connolly Handcuffing Immunity

18. Smith v. Town of East Haven Duty to Protect

19. State v McCullough Extra-jurisdiction Pursuit and Arrest ok

20. Daubert denied on-duty Workman's Compensation Injury

21. State of Connecticut v Santos Unlawful Terry Stop

22. United States v Daily lawful Terry Stop & Seizure

23. State v Mann Forced Warrantless Entry Terry Frisk Unlawful

24. State v Mann Reversed by State Supreme Court

25. Teresa v Ragaglia Duty to Protect

26. Ross v. Rell Temporary Restraining Order

27. Fitness for Duty Standard set by Connecticut Supreme Court

28. State v. Browne Pursuit results in Criminal Negligent Homicide standard

29. Connecticut Firearms Laws

30. Connecticut Assault Weapons Ban Statute CGS 53-202a

31. State v Aloi Right to Refuse ID confirmed in Connecticut Over Ruled by State Supreme Court January 2, 2007

32. Stop & Identify Authority during a Terry Stop - Connecticut  v Aloi  

33. Hiibel Terry Stop Forced to Provide Identification

34. Connecticut Civilian Arrest Authority

35. State v Brown Firearm Defined

36. State v Hardy Appellate Court Deadly Weapon Defined

37. State v Hardy Supreme Court Deadly Weapon Defined

38. State Supreme Court affirms State v Hardy

39. Dziekan v. Gaynor off-duty dog shooting justified

40. Santiago v City of Hartford Monell Immunity

41. State v Fermaint Constructive Possession Standard

42. Muehler et al. v. Mena Handcuffing ok during swat entry

43. Devenpeck v. Alford warrantless arrest

44. State v Smith Murder warrant

45. State v Smith Probable Cause Ruling

46. State v Smith Appellate Court Reversal of Conviction

47. State of New York v.Tanella

48. US v. Patane Miranda not required

49. Yarborough v. Alvarado Miranda Warning Custody Test

50. Thompson v. Keohane Custody Defined

51. Illinois v. Lidster Informational Roadblocks ok'd by US Supreme Court

52. Maryland v Pringle probable cause drug possession for all vehicle occupants

53. United States v Banks 20 Seconds Knock & Announce Forced Entry OK'd

54. State of Connecticut v Scribner 14-283 Officer Conviction Upheld

55. Sacramento v Lewis High Speed Pursuit Purpose to Cause Harm Standard

56. State v Carolina Full Custody Arrest authorized for motor vehicle infractions and offenses

57. Atwater v City of Largo Full Custody Arrest traffic fine only

58. State of Connecticut v Smith Citizen Arrest Authority

59. Saucier v Katz U.S. Supreme Court Qualified Immunity Test

60. Qualified Immunity Denied under Saucier v Katz OC Q-tip Use Held Unreasonable

61. United States v Arvizu Articulable Suspicion test for motor vehicle stops

62. Thornton v. US Motor Vehicle Search ok after Arrest of Recent Occupant

63. Roper v Simmons Death Penalty Denied to 16 & 17 year old Murderers

64. State of Connecticut v. Michael Skakel

65. Illinois v Caballes Dog Snif ok

66. Missouri v. Seibert Interrogation Tactic Unconstitutional Miranda Required

67. State v Czyzewski Extra-jurisdiction Terry Stops Allowed

68. State of Connecticut v Clark Stop & Frisk

69. State of Connecticut v Carolina full custody arrest authority for traffic infractions and offenses

70. U.S. Supreme Court Illinois v Wardlow Right to run from the police denied

71. Whren v United States Articulable Suspicion Standard set by US Supreme Court

72. U.S. Supreme Court Home Probation Searches Authorized on Reasonable Suspicion

73. Constitutional Individual Right to Bear Arms Affirmed

74. Parker v District of Columbia Right to Bear Arms

75. 9th Circuit Court ruling on Q-tip application of OC

76. Home Thermal Imaging is a Constitutional Violation

77. U.S. Supreme Court Dickerson Miranda Ruling

78. Sabir v Jowett No Probable cause Excessive Force

79. State v Salaman Intent to Shoot Standard

80. Connecticut v Scruggs C.G.S. 53-21 Unconstitutionally Vague

81. Samson v California The Fourth Amendment does not prohibit a police officer from conducting a suspicionless search of a parolee.

82. Hudson v Michigan Knock & Announce Violation does not trigger Exclusionary Rule violation

83. Connecticut v Nash Terry Stop & Frisk Standard

84. GARCETTI, et al., PETITIONERS v. RICHARD CEBALLOS When public employees make statements pursuant to their official duties, they are not speaking as citizens for First Amendment purposes, and the Constitution does not insulate their communications from employer discipline.

85. BRIGHAM CITY, UTAH v. STUART et al - Police may enter a home without a warrant when they have an objectively reasonable basis for believing that an occupant is seriously injured or imminently threatened with such injury.

86. Report on the Death of Jashon Bryant Requesting Manslaughter 1st Degree

87. Report on the Death of Robert Miessau in Waterbury on February 21, 2006

88. State Police Commissioner Boyle Opposes State-Wide Arrest Powers for Local Officers

89. State Police Commissioner's Second Letter Opposing Arrest Powers

90. Connecticut Police Chief's Association Supports State Wide Arrest Powers

91. Proposed House Bill 5464 Arrest Powers for Local Peace Officers

92. Connecticut v Browne Unlawful Search Warrant Seizure

93. Jones v East Haven New Trial Ordered for Compensatory Damages

94. SCOTT v. HARRIS (No. 05-1631) 433 F. 3d 807, reversed. A police officer's attempt to terminate a dangerous high-speed car chase that threatens the lives of innocent bystanders does not violate the Fourth Amendment, even when it places the fleeing motorist at risk of serious injury or death."
    Scott v Harris PIT as Deadly Force

95. US v McCargo Suspiciousless Frisk OK for Suspect Transport

96. Brendlin v California Passenger seizure Standard

97. BRENDLIN v. CALIFORNIA US Supreme Court Rules Passengers as well as Driver are seized for Fourth Amendment Purposes

98. Connecticut v Batts lawful Investigatory Stop Standard

99. Connecticut v Milotte Suspiciousless MV stop

100. Connecticut V. Burroughs - Unlawful Terry Stop

101. Connecticut v Nash Terry Stop

102. Report on the Death of Eric Habel

103. Young v City of Providence off-duty Shooting Liability

104. Interfering with an Officer C.G.S. 53a-167a - Stop & Identify Authority during a Terry Stop - Connecticut  v Aloi  

105. Milner v. Duncklee, No. 3:02cv1929 (D. Conn. 11/08/2006) Capias Forced Entry Standard

106. Connecticut v Jenkins Unlawful Seizure MV Stop

107. Connecticut v Jenkins Unlawful Seizure MV Stop Dissent