Police Commands: Lawful, Unlawful, and Deadly

Strap in for a deep dive into the life-or-death world of police commands with Professor Rachel Harmon, a renowned authority on police law. Harmon explains that at the moment a command is given, ciphering the difference between a legitimate order and an unlawful one can prove impossible. Daunting as that may be, the stakes are exponentially heightened since the consequences of non-compliance include lethal force. Prof. Harmon explores examples both hypothetical and from infamous tragedies while shedding light on individual rights in the face of lawful and unlawful police orders. Finally, Harmon explains that since police commands frequently play the deciding factor between a crisis averted and unwarranted violence, a rethink on policy is overdue.<br />Rachel Harmon is a professor of law at the University of Virginia School of Law.