Law Enforcement Bulletin 

The fee for law enforcement and other emergency responders to attend a School Safety/Crisis Management Conference in Columbus Aug. 19 has been reduced to $50 per person. The conference will address emergency management and planning along with recommended steps to take before, during, and after an emergency.

Putting others first is a reality of police work. Yet research and real life clearly show that the stress of the job can take a toll on those who do it, prompting a decision to focus the Ohio Attorney General’s 2013 Law Enforcement Conference on officer safety and wellness.

You now can tailor the topics and timing of email communications from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. In addition to receiving the Law Enforcement Bulletin, Criminal Justice Update, and OPOTA Mobile Academy newsletters, you can learn about new OPOTA courses as they’re posted and get updates on missing persons, unsolved homicides, and other topics. To choose your preferred topics and timeframe — when available, daily, or weekly — visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/EmailUpdates. 

Question: Can an officer be criminally prosecuted for abduction when he detains a person he does not suspect of criminal wrongdoing?
 
Quick answer: Yes, absolutely.

Question: When can you rely on a tip to make a stop?
 
Quick answer: These three cases highlight the most basic issues that come up in a tip-based stop: identifying whether the suspect is an “identified citizen informant” or a “known” or “anonymous” informant.

Question: Can an officer generate reasonable suspicion to stop based on many factors that, standing alone, would not create reasonable suspicion?
 
Quick Answer: Yes, that’s why it’s called “totality” of all the circumstances; you have to look at every permissible factor.

Question: Can you pat down and search someone you place in your cruiser for the sole purpose of convenience?
 
Quick answer: No.

Question: When a plastic bag of drugs falls out during a pat-down, is it admissible?
 
Quick answer: Yes.

Question: Can officers search a car inside a detached garage if their search warrant allows them to search the “surrounding curtilage” of a house?
 
Quick answer: Yes.