MENU
SEARCHA federal law providing immunity for federal agents from local prosecution was signed into law by President Obama with the "fiscal cliff" deal on Wednesday.
A federal law providing immunity for federal agents from local prosecution was signed into law by President Obama with the "fiscal cliff" deal on Wednesday.
The Officer Safety Act, which was strongly supported by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), provides a legal process to federal officers who intervene to prevent the loss of life or serious bodily injury to a third party.
Prior to the act's passage, federal officers could be exposed to local criminal prosecution if they could not substantiate that they acted within the scope of their employment. Now, federal officers will be able to petition the court for a removal hearing in order to have their case heard in a federal venue.
The act was sponsored by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.). It was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.
The legislation stemmed from the injustice faced by Will Clark, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. In 2008, while serving in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Special Agent Clark intervened to save the life of a battered neighbor. Clark was subsequently charged with murder.
"It's important for our legal system to support the heroic acts of federal officers when they risk their lives in their personal capacity to prevent the loss of life," said Jon Adler, FLEOA's national president.
Related:
What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.
Read More →
A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.
Read More →
Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.
Read More →
The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.
Read More →
How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.
Read More →
What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Read More →
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →
In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.
Read More →
Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →