March 20—Police 1
Use of Force- Moving Forward

Speaker: Jack Ryan

Over the last two years there has been debate and discussion over law enforcement’s use of force, particularly in areas with large minority communities.  This session focuses on the law, community expectations, and recent proposals put out by President Obama’s 21st Century Policing task force as well as the National Consensus on Use of Force promulgated by a number of law enforcement groups.  Comparisons between the legal standard and recommendations, exhibit the potential that law enforcement officers may be held to two distinct standards with respect to use of force.  Attorneys representing public entities should be aware of these two distinct standards and how they may become blurred in legal claims of excessive force.

Speaker: Jack Ryan

Jack Ryan is a retired captain of the Providence Police Department in Rhode Island. Jack went to Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts where he studied under the tutelage of well-known section 1983 Professor of Law, Karen Blum. Over the last 20 years Jack has continued his study of section 1983 as it relates to law enforcement liability. Jack provides training to law enforcement as well as attorneys throughout the United States with respect to this rapidly evolving area of governmental law. Jack also provides consultation, largely as a law enforcement practices consultant to attorneys throughout the United States. Through Jack’s role as the CoDirector of the Legal and Liability Risk Management Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana, Jack provides policy research and writing services as well as auditing services and consultation to law enforcement agencies throughout the United States. Jack has been published in numerous articles and manuals written for law enforcement throughout the country.