Chief’s Counsel: A Little Advice May Buy You Immunity
If you find yourself wondering whether you have probable cause to make an arrest or sufficient basis to conduct a search or make an entry into a home, or if you have some doubt about a disciplinary decision or policy issue, call your local attorney and ask for advice. Make sure you give him or her all the relevant information and then ask what to do. More often than not, you’ll get the correct answer. In the unlikely event that the attorney gives you the wrong advice, you may still be entitled to qualified immunity because you made the good-faith effort to ask for advice.
