Law Enforcement Bulletin 

Strategies that have produced drastic reductions in gun-related crime in cities around the country form the foundation for Attorney General Mike DeWine’s new Safe Neighborhoods Initiative.

The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed the constitutionality of taking DNA samples from felony arrestees. This case confirms the validity of the Ohio law that established the requirement for felony arrestees to submit DNA samples beginning in July 2011.

Quick Summary: This case should be a must-read for officers trying to understand how courts view — sometimes skeptically — an officer’s actions that intrude on individual liberty. Although this case turns on the complex legal question of qualified immunity, it is a candid view of how courts seek to protect individual liberty from undue police intrusion.

Question: Can an officer use false threats or promises of leniency to secure a confession from a suspect?
 
Quick Answer: No. The Sixth Circuit said the interrogation in this case “presents a stark example of police impropriety and deplorable interrogation techniques.” This is a good read on how not to get a confession.

Question: Can an officer open a small container found during a pat-down that he suspects may contain razor blades.
 
Quick answer: No. An officer’s mere hunch that a small container may contain razor blades is insufficient.

Question: Can officers search a vehicle that leaves a premises that they have a warrant to search?
 
Quick Answer: No. A search warrant is limited to the immediate premises it describes.

Question: Is physical control a lesser-included offense of an over-the-limit OVI?
 
Quick Answer: No.

Two upcoming training opportunities can help law enforcement officers enhance their ability to speak to and for abused children. The trainings, provided by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in coordination with the National Child Protection Training Center, also can benefit prosecutors, victim advocates, and social workers.