Police liability claims tend to be increasing as the public becomes increasingly aware of problems in their state, local and national law enforcement agencies. When passers-by videotape "police brutality" during an arrest, or the out-of-control response is videotaped by the camera in the police car, it often makes national television news. But policing is a dangerous field, and more than one police officer's life has been saved by a bullet-proof vest. The problem for the police, however, often comes in finding out what their liability insurance will or will not cover.

Many state and federal court cases have centered on what is covered and what may be excluded under a law enforcement general or professional liability insurance form. For example, does a policy that includes "personal injury" perils include coverage for alleged violation of a plaintiff's "civil rights," absent a specific exclusion of such claims? One state court found that it did, while in another state the exclusion was upheld.

Law enforcement agencies are exposed to many types of claims, ranging from wrongful death and injuries to false arrest, detention, wrongful prosecution and defamation of character. Suppose the sheriff is asked by a landlord to assist in evicting a non-paying tenant, who later alleges that the eviction was wrongfully conducted and that the tenant's property was damaged. Does the law provide any immunity in such a case? Can the sheriff seek coverage under the landlord's own policy, or make a third party claim against the landlord? What if it is discovered that the sheriff assisted in evicting the wrong tenant? Could the act be deemed intentional? All these are coverage questions that have required the courts' rulings.

Knowing how to investigate both the coverage and liability of any type of insurance claim is the multi-line learning experience one acquires at Crawford Educational Services. Whether it is a claim under a commercial insurance policy or a claim under a self-insured governmental entity's risk management program, our instructors are skilled in providing the necessary knowledge to handle the claim correctly. For complete course listings, visit our website.