Cops Sound Off

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday approved Florida’s version of the well-known Miranda rights warning, despite complaints that it wasn’t clear a suspect could have a lawyer present during questioning.The court’s 7-2 decision restoring Kevin Dwayne Powell’s conviction is the first of several it will make this year clarifying exactly what the long-established Miranda rights require police to do.Powell was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm after telling police he bought the weapon “off the street” for $150 for his protection. Before his confession, Powell signed a Miranda statement that included the words, …Read more […..]

LOS ANGELES — After criticism for a string of deadly shootings by deputies, the nation’s largest sheriff’s department told officers Wednesday to think twice before chasing and trying to arrest suspects who are believed to be armed.The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department issued new guidelines telling deputies it’s often better to contain someone considered armed and dangerous then wait for backup officers to arrive before taking them into custody.The shift in strategy came after a year in which deputies killed 16 suspects, up from nine in 2008.”We can do better,” Sheriff Lee Baca said. “That’s what this policy intends …Read more […..]