2 New Jersey Officers Cleared in Non-fatal Shooting
A grand jury has decided to not file criminal charges against three Jersey City, NJ, police officers who shot two men this summer after mistaking Roman candle bursts for gunshots.
A grand jury has decided to not file criminal charges against three Jersey City, NJ, police officers who shot two men this summer after mistaking Roman candle bursts for gunshots.
The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, which conducted the investigation into the July 1 non-fatal shooting on Randolph Avenue, announced the grand jury's decision to "no bill" the officers after presenting the evidence of the case, reports NJ.com.
"Specifically, the Grand Jurors found there was sufficient evidence to conclude that the use of deadly force was reasonable under the facts and circumstances reasonable known to the officers at the time and therefore criminal charges were not appropriate," the HCPO said in a lengthy statement describing the incident and subsequent investigation.
The shooting near the Arlington Gardens public housing complex left 19-year-old Shaquan Rush and 21-year-old Davonte Moore with lower body gunshot wounds that were not life-threatening.
The HCPO investigation found that Lt. Crisant Bereguette, Officer Raymond Vazquez, and Officer Michael Jacobo opened fire on Rush and Moore after spotting them extend their arms "in a firing position." But the two men weren't armed—they were shooting Roman candles at a group of people standing in front of the public housing complex, the HCPO said.
Carmine Disbrow, president of the JCPOBA, welcomed the decision, saying that it is in line with what they suspected from the time the incident happened. Their officers, he said, "acted in accordance with their training, and in an effort to protect not only their only lives but the lives of others."
More Point of Law

Point of Law: The Limits of Electronic Searches
Can an individual be prosecuted for despicable criminal conduct based on evidence obtained in violation of the United States Constitution? Ultimately, the Ninth Circuit judges wrote, “In the circumstances of this case (United States v. Holcomb, 23-469 (9th Cir. 2025)), respect for the Constitution and the rule of law requires an answer of “no.”
Read More →Trump Issues Order Cutting Federal Funding in Cashless Bail Jurisdictions
<strong>“</strong>Cashless bail policies allow dangerous individuals to immediately return to the streets and further endanger law-abiding, hard-working Americans because they know our laws will not be enforced,” the administration said.
Read More →Justice Department Sues Los Angeles Over Sanctuary Policies
The DOJ said in a press release that the “sanctuary city” policies of the City of Los Angeles are illegal under federal law.
Read More →
Understanding Officer-Created Jeopardy
Officers can be criminally prosecuted for using force when their actions led to escalation during contact with subjects.
Read More →
Point of Law: The Limitations of Search Warrants
In the Tenth Circuit case of Cuervo v. Sorenson, the Court ruled officers cannot deviate from the language of the warrant.
Read More →DOJ Dismisses Consent Decrees Affecting Louisville and Minneapolis Police
The Civil Rights Division will be taking all necessary steps to dismiss the Louisville and Minneapolis lawsuits with prejudice, to close the underlying investigations into the Louisville and Minneapolis police departments.
Read More →New Michigan Bill would Give Officers Civil Immunity in Self-Defense Cases
House Bill 4404 would create a presumption of civil immunity for individuals who are cleared criminally after using force in self-defense, shifting the burden of proof onto plaintiffs.
Read More →Seattle to Pay Police Captain $1 Million to Settle Lawsuit
Seattle police Capt. Eric Greening sued former Chief Adrian Diaz last year alleging that Diaz retaliated when Greening brought up concerns about racial and gender discrimination.
Read More →Washington Agencies Ordered to Not Delete Critical Facebook Contents
Jim Leighty, a local activist, filed two federal lawsuits last year claiming both agencies deleted or hid critical comments he had written below multiple posts, while keeping comments that were pro-police in nature.
Read More →Washington State Attorney General Sues Sheriff for Helping Immigration Enforcement
The lawsuit claims the Adams County Sheriff’s Office has illegally held people in custody based only on their immigration status, helped federal agents question people in custody, and given immigration officials confidential personal information.
Read More →