news and information from the AELE website on topics of interest to law enforcement http://www.aele.org/ AELE has launched an Internet portal for locating and reading ECW judicial decisions, called Electronic Control Weapons - AELE Case Digests. http://www.aele.org/law/Digests/ECWcases.html Police officers inevitably run into individuals who are seriously ill, such as heart attacks, strokes, epileptic seizures, diabetic incidents, and any number of other health emergencies in which the lack of swift action may all too often mean the difference between life and death or permanent impairment and disability. http://www.aele.org/law/2013-05MLJ101.html Reviews the impact of a U.S. Supreme Court decision on such strip searches. http://www.aele.org/law/2013-02MLJ301.html It barred a First Amendment retaliation claim made by a detective. http://www.aele.org/law/2012-11MLJ501.html Instances of weapon confusion, although relatively rare, have led to tragic consequences, including serious injuries and two deaths. In some of these cases, major civil lawsuits for damages have resulted against municipalities, officers, or both. In at least one instance, an officer also faced criminal prosecution for the incident. http://www.aele.org/law/2012-06MLJ101.html AELE introduced this topic in a May, 2009 article in the Monthly Law Journal. Much has happened since then. In addition to significant decisions in Illinois, Maryland and Massachusetts, the U.S. Justice Dept. has weighed in, with six policy recommendations. http://www.aele.org/law/2012-07MLJ201.html Police were entitled to qualified immunity for their warrantless entry into a home based on exigent circumstances and the totality of the circumstances. They were investigating reports that a student who lived there had written a letter with a threat to shoot up the high school he attended. The mother initially ignored the officers knocks on the door, and she hung up on an officer when he called on the phone. This is a guest article. http://www.aele.org/law/2012-03MLJ401.html