The Year in Review: Top Law Enforcement Stories in 2013

It’s that time of year, when people pause to reflect on the year gone by and resolve to make changes in the coming year.

Let’s start with some good news from 2013. This year had the lowest level of law enforcement fatalities in SIX decades, according to this article in PoliceOne. In total, 111 police officers died in the line of duty this year, an 8 percent decrease from 2012.

There were also some very important Supreme Court rulings made in 2013 that largely impacted law enforcement. A significant case was United States v. Jones that limited law enforcement’s ability to use GPS technology to track suspects without a warrant. Also Florida v. Jardines focused on the use of police canines without a warrant. You can read more about these cases here.

From our blog, here are the top 5 stories from 2013:

1. Transitioning to a New Career? Here’s What you Need to Know. This blog has some great tips from industry experts who have made transitions out of public safety professions into the private sector.
2. D.C. Police Chief: Technology has Reinvented Law Enforcement and the Learning Curve is Steep. D.C. Chief of Police Cathy Lanier gave a great presentation about how her department has integrated technology into its operations and the challenges of leading a newly tech-savvy department.
3. What Legal Issues Should Law Enforcement Know About? As a police officer, you are likely to be named as a defendant at some point in your career. Here’s what you need to know to be better prepared.
4. Police Must Increase Their Awareness about Ongoing Threats from Sovereign Citizens. Police are facing an increasing number of hostile situations involving so-called sovereign citizens. Here are some tips about how to identify such a person and how to handle an interaction.
5. Addressing Mental Wellness and Police Suicides: A Lifelong Commitment. The good news is that police suicides are on the decline, but it still remains the leading cause of police deaths. This is a very important issue that cannot remain in the shadows as we head into a new year.

As we prepare to flip the calendar to 2014, take some time to reflect on the significant moments from your life and career this year.

From those of us at American Military University, we wish you and yours a happy, prosperous and SAFE 2014!