We have all heard the urban legends from across America about bizarre laws that may not be enforced, but have never been repealed. While many are little more than myths and rumors, there are a handful that are genuine laws still in effect today.

Over 20,000 officers have lost their lives since the first recorded line-of-duty death in 1791. The stress of the job can cause many officers to develop long-lasting mental health issues that affect both their professional and personal lives. This National Police Week, we remember our fallen officers and think of those who still step out onto the streets every morning.

With a duty to respond to every call made to the police department, police officers often find themselves stretched thin and they may struggle to juggle their time, and every officer fears they may attend one call only to miss another that results in a life-or-death situation. This is exactly why the Fort Worth Police Department in Texas has implemented an innovative Civilian Response Unit (CRU) to alleviate the stress of police officers throughout the city.

2020 proved to be a tumultuous year for law enforcement. As well as being tasked with protecting civilians throughout the course of a global pandemic, the police force was placed under a heightened level of scrutiny during a period of civil unrest. As the conversation about the role of policing in society turned into a national debate, the use of body cameras was brought into question, with many disagreeing on their effectiveness or how they should be used.

After more than six months of inactivity, the NYPD academy finally resumed courses on November 2nd, when a socially-distanced ceremony was held for the newest recruits. Wearing masks and remaining several feet apart, a total of 900 cadets took the oath to join the department and began serving their community, amid one of the most challenging periods in recent American history.

Even when optimism is scarce, there is room for surprises. Such was the case of veteran NYPD officer Yvan Pierre-Louis, 59, who was discharged from hospital in mid-September after fighting COVID-19 for 168 days. His journey was an extremely tough one; he spent more than four months on ventilation, two of which he was in a coma.

The city’s most violent month in 28 years has coincided with the announcement of a new anti-violence strategy by Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown. It consists of the establishment and deployment of two new teams…

Victims of domestic violence (DV) are yet another casualty of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. When American citizens were advised to stay home this spring, police departments across the country reported a decrease in the incidence of crimes such as car theft and armed robberies. DV calls, however, increased sharply.

The recent death of George Floyd, which has sparked nationwide protests, is causing law enforcement to focus more on the communities they serve. From Facebook Live, to walking into crowds, officers are looking for innovative ways to get their message through.

The highly contagious virus has made law enforcement agencies rethink how they can work with either minimal or no physical contact. Technology has certainly been playing a key role: