Supervisor Liability for Law Enforcement

Instructor: Matt Dolan, Attorney at Dolan Consulting Group

Date & Time: January 6, 2027, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Central Time (Registration begins at 8:00 AM)

Location: Terry Oden Police and Fire Training Facility, 3611 East Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35243

Format: In-person training

Cost: $250.00 for individual registration

Accreditation: Eligible for TCOLE credit

Course Overview

Supervisory positions in law enforcement require a thorough understanding of risk management principles. Too many supervisors discover these complexities through costly mistakes that impact themselves, their agencies, their personnel, and the public they serve. This course emphasizes the importance of supervisors regularly evaluating their leadership decisions through the lens of liability and risk management.

Through examination of case law and contemporary real-world case studies, participants will explore the most prevalent and expensive liability challenges that law enforcement supervisors face, along with proven approaches to reduce exposure. This training equips law enforcement leaders with the knowledge and strategies needed to take proactive measures in limiting liability exposure, upholding organizational policies, and maintaining public confidence.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will understand:

• The three fundamental questions in supervisor liability: what information supervisors should possess, when they should obtain it, and what actions they should take
• The importance of accountability and early intervention through active supervision and inspection
• How to structure Internal Affairs operations as a comprehensive agency function
• Key sources of liability in personnel management decisions
• Strategies for making legally defensible and ethical hiring decisions, including understanding long-term liability risks from poor hiring choices and the critical role of field training and probationary periods
• Application of the Just Cause Doctrine to ensure consistent officer discipline
• How performance evaluations can support or undermine agency operations
• Methods for addressing diffusion of responsibility and the bystander effect at the supervisory level
• Consequences of officer discipline failures and the importance of timely action
• The value of recognizing and reinforcing positive employee performance

Course Details

Pre-payment is not required at the time of registration. A printed course workbook and complimentary coffee will be provided during the training. Following successful completion, participants will receive a certificate of attendance. Agency-wide group pricing is available upon request.