Top law enforcement officials from five counties say congressional proposals to change qualified immunity protections for police are unnecessary because existing laws already hold them accountable for illegal acts and could ultimately lead to municipal bankruptcies.
âIn a press release, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said deputies and police officers are not immune from prosecution or civil liability when they act outside the scope of existing laws, policy, training or protocols. He said the belief that law enforcement is immune from criminal prosecution or civil action is not true.
According to Cornell Law School, cornell.edu, qualified immunity is a type of legal immunity. “Qualified immunity balances two important interests — the need to hold public officials accountable when they exercise power irresponsibly and the need to shield officials from harassment, distraction, and liability when they perform their duties reasonably.” Pearson v. Callahan.