First Thursday

Rick Poulson interviews attorney Lance LoRusso, founder of the Blue Line Institute. They discuss Lance’s background as a sworn police officer and a police attorney, as well as the current challenges facing police officers and their advocates. This month’s cases: Court Reverses Decision Granting Retired Firefighters Retroactive Pension Adjustments, Stiegler v. City of Meriden, 348 […]

Welcome Rick Poulson to the LRIS First Thursday Podcast! April’s First Thursday podcast is a special two-person affair as LRIS Executive Director, Rick Poulson, joins Will as cohost. Rick talks about his background, how he became a labor attorney, and helps Will break down this months cases. Cases: Burden Of Proof Is On Employer To […]

State of California rewrites its Racial and Identity Profiling Act, Letter to Rob Bonta, Attorney General for California (2024) ‘Marsy’s Law’ Does Not Shield Crime Victims’ Names From Disclosure, City of Tallahassee v. Florida PBA, 2023 WL 8264181 (Fla. 2023). Female Firefighter Applicant Unsuccessfully Challenges Physical Test As Discriminatory, Erdman v. City of Madison, No. […]

Good news on the economy and inflation This month’s cases

The recurring attack on binding disciplinary arbitration. Will Aitchison covers a study from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy entitled “How To Improve Policing Through Collective Bargaining Reforms.” He covers its fatal flaw, and why law enforcement unions must be aware of it. Cases: Statements Made To Criminal Investigator Not Protected Under Garrity, Foltz v. City […]

This month’s cases: Cell Phone Warrant Of Officer’s Phone Too Broad, Commonwealth v. Sukhadia, 2023 WL 7409309 (Penn. Super. 2023). Township Violates Free Speech Rights By Banning Thin Blue Line Flag, Pennsylvania State Lodge v. Township of Springfield, 2023 WL 7547494 (E.D. Penn. 2023). Firefighter’s Union Loses Challenge to Arbitrator’s Opinion, Tamburo v. City of […]

Current Events The latest development in A.I. and policing: The City of San Jose signs on to use Benchmark Analytics’ First Sign Early Intervention System. How are cities dealing with the recruitment and retention crisis? Cases

This month’s cases: Officers Entitled To Privacy About Participation In January 6 Rally, Jane Doe 1 v. Seattle Police Department, 2023 WL 4182193 (Wash. App. 2023). Download this case. Department’s Garrity Failure Results In Reinstatement, Foltz v. City of St. Louis, 2023 WL 5688659 (Mo. App. 2023). When Are Text Messages A Matter Of Public […]

The persistence of the recruitment and retention crisis in public safety. Related stories: The Cases:

This month’s cases: Florida Court Upholds Termination Of CO For Medical Marijuana Use, Ortiz v. Department of Corrections, 2023 WL 4101330 (Fla. App. 2023). No Weingarten Rights When Merely Receiving Counseling Memo, Madison County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, 56 PERB ¶ 4541 (NY PERB ALJ 2023). No Privacy Right To Masturbate While On Duty, Demill v. […]

Important cases from the Supreme Court. Groff v. Dejoy Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows of Harvard College Muldrow v. City of St. Louis Latest news: NYPD signs new uniformed officers contracts. New EEOC Guidance on When the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Selection Procedures May Be Discriminatory Arbitrator Orders In-Person Rather […]

This month’s cases: Union, Not Member, Has Right To Invoke Arbitration, Pendleton Police Department, 2023 WL 2858867 (OR ERB 2023). Paid Union Leave Legal In Texas, Borgelt v. Austin Firefighters Association, 2022 WL 17096786 (Tex. App. 2022). Political Patronage Case Subject To Arbitration, Orange County Sheriff’s Office Employees Association v. Orange County, Texas, 2023 WL […]

The movie and novel Minority Report introduced the idea of “precrime.” Could AI make this a reality? Benchmark Analytics claims it can predict adverse officer actions before they happen. This month’s cases: Boston Allowed To Implement Vaccination Policy, Boston Firefighters Union, Local 718 v. City of Boston, 2023 WL 2698781 (Mass. 2023). Court Turns Away […]

The first meaningful applications of artificial intelligence in the public safety labor world are happening. What does this bode for the near future? Cases: Arbitrator’s Decision Reinstating Text-Messaging Officer Not Against Public Policy, City of Springfield v. PPBA, Unit 5, 2023 IL App (4th) 220321-U (Ill. App. 2023). No Privacy Protections Against Disclosure Of Officers’ […]

Portland survived Winter Apocalypse 2023! This month’s cases: Firefighter Entitled To Unemployment Benefits After Firing For Use Of Medical Marijuana, City of Waterbury, 216 Conn.App. 717 (2022). No Privacy Interest In On-Line Videos, Mason v. City of Waco, 2023 WL 1926984 (W.D. Tex. 2023).Behind The Blue Curtain Podcast Officer’s Facebook Lawsuit Survives Motion To Dismiss, […]

In this month’s podcast: Article: Evidence On Measures To Reduce Excessive Use Of Force By The Police (h/t to PORAC). Firefighter Schedule Change Illegal Discrimination, IAFF, Local 365 v. City of East Chicago, 2022 WL 17829283 (7th Cir. 2022). Sergeant Has Privacy Interest In Dropbox Account Created With Employer’s Email, State v. Bowers, 2022 WL […]

It’s a new year and the times, they are a-changin’ here at LRIS. In this month’s podcast:

This month’s cases: Not Unconstitutional To Bar Recording IA Interviews, Hils v. Davis, 2022 WL 16731082 (6th Cir. 2022). Firefighter Loses Free Speech Lawsuit Over Voicemail, Millspaugh v. Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services, 2022 WL 17101337 (11th Cir. 2022). Unsubstantiated Rumors Do Not Start Bill Of Rights Statute Of Limitations, Shouse v. County of […]

Cases: The City of Oklahoma City and Devin Frazier decision, City of Oklahoma City, FMCS Case No. 210710-08292 (Rubinett 2022). Ex Parte Advice From Decisionmaker’s Wife Violates Due Process, Johnson v. Department of the Air Force, 2022 WL 4456279 (Fed. Cir. 2022). Court Allows Employer To Seize Corrections Officer’s Guns, Anderson v. Molina, 2022 WL […]

What’s going on with the Consumer Price Index? Cases: Waiver Of Bargaining Rights Need Not Be In Writing, Portland Fire Fighters’ Association, 321 Or. App. 569 (2022). Vice-President’s Knowledge Can Waive Union’s Right To Bargain, Syracuse Firefighters Association, 55 PERB ¶ 4551 (NY PERB ALJ 2022). Corrections Officers Lack Standing To Challenge Sick Leave Confinement […]