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The Spotlight

This column examines the professional exposures of those who work in federal law enforcement. The news items, explanations, accounts, scenarios and comparisons are provided by Federal Employee Defense Services (FEDS). For more information about FEDS, visit our partner page.

Online at: Federal Employee Defense Services

Federal Employee Defense Services Videos

Professional Liability Insurance for Federal Employees
Professional Liability Insurance for Federal Law Enforcement Officers
Professional Liability Insurance for Federal Wildland Firefighters
Professional Liability Insurance for Federal Employees (taped Sept. 2011)

Title Published Date Author
ATF Reboot Plans Hit Wall 23 May 2013 Federal Employee Defense Services
LEOSA Coverage: What You Need To Know 15 March 2013 Federal Employee Defense Services
Why PLI and Why FEDS 15 February 2013 Federal Employee Defense Services
Fatality Statistics Stand as Stark Reminder of Dangers of Law Enforcement Jobs 17 January 2013 Federal Employee Defense Services
How does the Passing of the Officer Safety Act of 2012 Affect Federal Law Enforcement Officers? 20 December 2012 Federal Employee Defense Services
Violence in the Federal Workplace 18 October 2012 Federal Employee Defense Services
The Effects of an Administrative Investigation 20 September 2012 Federal Employee Defense Services
How much could a Mistake Cost you at your Agency? 16 August 2012 Federal Employee Defense Services
Investigating Cyber Criminals 19 July 2012 Federal Employee Defense Services
Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) 21 June 2012 Federal Employee Defense Services
An Officer’s Obligation 16 May 2012 Federal Employee Defense Services
LEOSA Criminal and Civil Liability Protection 19 April 2012 Federal Employee Defense Services
Is there a Difference? 08 March 2012 Federal Employee Defense Services
Challenging the Appropriate Law Enforcement Response 16 February 2012 Federal Employee Defense Services
Professional Liability Insurance - Why Do I Need It? 02 February 2012 Federal Employee Defense Services
Finding Peace 19 January 2012 Federal Employee Defense Services
Agents Exposed 15 December 2011 Federal Employee Defense Services
FLEOA 2012 Annual Conference 17 November 2011 Federal Employee Defense Services
Law Enforcement Officers and DUI Arrests 20 October 2011 Federal Employee Defense Services
In the Wake of 9/11 25 August 2011 Federal Employee Defense Services
Power [can be] the Ultimate Aphrodisiac 21 July 2011 Federal Employee Defense Services
Personal Threats by Sovereign Citizens 16 June 2011 Federal Employee Defense Services
The Cause and Effect of Secondary Traumatic Stress 19 May 2011 Federal Employee Defense Services
Protecting Personal Information 14 April 2011 Federal Employee Defense Services
Experiencing Today's Violent Offenders 17 March 2011 Federal Employee Defense Services
The Right to Free Speech in the Federal Workplace 17 February 2011 Federal Employee Defense Services
In the Line of Fire 13 January 2011 Federal Employee Defense Services

Takedowns

Former Congressman Richard Renzi Convicted of Extortion and Bribery in Illegal Federal Land Swap

On Tuesday this week a federal jury in Tucson, Arizona found former Congressman Richard Renzi (R-AZ) and a real-estate investor, James Sandlin, guilty of conspiring to extort and bribe individuals seeking a federal land exchange.

Renzi, 55, was found guilty of 17 felony offenses including conspiracy, honest services wire fraud, extortion under color of official right, racketeering, money laundering and making false statements to insurance regulators. Sandlin, 62, was found guilty of 13 felony offenses including conspiracy, honest services wire fraud, extortion under color of official right and money laundering.

The convictions were announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney John Leonardo of the District of Arizona.

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GEICO's Good Stuff

Data Scientists Gather for Government Performance Summit #GPS13

GEICO’s Good Stuff is a column series highlighting great stuff happening in the federal community.

This week, the Performance Institute convened their 13th annual Government Performance Summit just outside Washington, DC in Crystal City, Virginia. This year’s summit is entitled “Science of Data: Unlocking Information for Improved Insight.”

Speakers and break-out sessions focused on the increased access and availability of government data, which presents agencies with the capability to use verifiable information to set, monitor, and track progress towards reaching their strategic goals.

Jon Desenberg, a senior director at the Performance Institute, said the Government Performance Summit (GPS) is “a groundbreaking opportunity to learn from government managers on how to improve the way government works.”

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Case Law Update

Supreme Court Holds That Obtaining DNA Samples From Arrestees Suspected of Committing Violent Crimes Is Constitutional

In 2009, Alonzo King brandished a shotgun at several people.  He was arrested and, pursuant to Maryland law, at his booking a DNA sample was taken from him.  This DNA sample was eventually run through a database of DNA obtained in relation to unsolved crimes.  The results implicated Mr. King in a previously unsolved rape which was committed in 2003.  Based on the DNA evidence, Mr. King was convicted of rape and sentenced to life imprisonment, although he challenged the government’s gathering of his DNA as an unlawful suspicionless search in violation of the Fourth Amendment.  After several appeals, and in an unusually split 5-4 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that Maryland’s law allowing law enforcement officers to obtain a DNA sample from suspected violent felons at booking was constitutional. 

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Recent Takedowns

Recent GEICO Good Stuffs

Recent Case Law Updates