Police in Court, when they broke no laws. The reasons why.
Police in Court, when they broke no laws. The reasons why. In an era where politics often collides with justice, law enforcement officers are increasingly finding themselves in court, prosecuted not for misconduct, but for doing their jobs. Despite well-established legal precedents like Graham v. Connor, some State’s Attorneys and Chief Prosecutors, many of whom are elected political figures, continue to push criminal charges against police officers who have broken no laws. The episode is also promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other platforms.
“These prosecutions aren’t always about justice, they’re often about politics,” says Lance LoRusso, a police officer turned attorney, widely known as “The Blue Line Lawyer.” LoRusso has spent over three decades in public safety, first as an EMT and police officer, and now as a nationally recognized advocate and defender of law enforcement officers. This episode of The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast now streaming on for free on their website, in addition to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most major social podcast platforms.
The 1989 Supreme Court case Graham v. Connor set the standard for evaluating claims of excessive force by police, focusing on "objective reasonableness." The ruling emphasized that police use of force must be judged from the standpoint of a reasonable officer on the scene, not through the lens of 20/20 hindsight. Yet that critical distinction is often disregarded when officers are put on trial. Police in Court, when they broke no laws. The reasons why. Look for supporting stories about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
“Prosecutors should be guided by facts and the law, not by appearances or political pressure,” LoRusso asserts. He has represented over 175 first responders in critical incidents, including officer-involved shootings. “Too many prosecutions ignore clear-cut evidence that the officer acted lawfully, within department training, and responded appropriately to an immediate threat.”
Courts and prosecutors are supposed to weigh key factors like the severity of the offense, whether the suspect posed an immediate threat, and whether they were resisting or fleeing. But when the public cries out and the cameras roll, these facts are often pushed aside. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
And the cost is enormous.
“Millions of taxpayer dollars are wasted on these prosecutions,” LoRusso explains. “When officers are acquitted, and many are, they still suffer mentally, financially, and professionally. Their families suffer too.” Police in Court, when they broke no laws. The reasons why. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
According to The Washington Post, police officers who are charged with murder or manslaughter while on duty are only convicted about 50% of the time. That statistic raises a sobering question: Why are so many police being prosecuted in the first place?
LoRusso believes he knows the answer.
“In at least half of these cases, prosecutors either knew, or should have known, that the officers did nothing wrong. They pursued these charges anyway, for reasons that had more to do with public optics and political ambitions than legal merit.”
LoRusso, who holds degrees from Emory, Kennesaw State, and Georgia State University College of Law, is licensed to practice in Georgia, Tennessee, and Arkansas. He collaborates with legal teams across the U.S., defending law enforcement officers in politically motivated prosecutions. In 2021, he was named Attorney of the Year by the National Fraternal Order of Police. You can listen to his stories and interview on our website for free in addition to platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.
Beyond his legal work, LoRusso is also an author. His fiction novels bring to life authentic police stories with characters pulled from the heart of law enforcement. His non-fiction books are resources for officers facing legal scrutiny, and all proceeds go to first responder charities. His books and insights can be found on platforms like Apple, Spotify, and Amazon. Police in Court, when they broke no laws. The reasons why.
He also leads training conferences for attorneys and law enforcement professionals. One central theme: how to manage the critical hours after an officer-involved shooting. “What happens in the first few hours can shape the entire case. That’s where most mistakes are made, not by the officer, but by the system that should be protecting them,” says LoRusso.
The interview with Lance is promoted on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other Law Enforcement Talk Radio and Podcast social platforms. The forums by Lance are aimed at educating professionals on best practices in investigating and defending the use of force. The full podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
LoRusso emphasizes, “Behind every badge is a person who made a split-second decision. They shouldn’t be judged by a news cycle or a political campaign.”
In today’s media-driven, politically charged environment, it's easier than ever for prosecutors to bring a police officer to court. But the real challenge, and the true measure of justice lies in asking whether they should.
To learn more about Lance LoRusso's work, his books, or to hear directly from him, visit his interview in the podcast version of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast available for free on their website, also free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major platforms. His voice stands strong in the ongoing battle between politics and justice, between courtroom drama and constitutional rights. Police in Court, when they broke no laws. The reasons why. Listen to his full interview on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website for free, also on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or most major podcast platforms.
Read more stories, insights, and legal analysis from Lance LoRusso in his books. You can find details announced on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and across other social media platforms.
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Police in Court, when they broke no laws. The reasons why.
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