About This Course

In a contentious midterm election year, emotions are running high for Americans of all political persuasions and law enforcement officers are no exception. On duty or off duty, usually through social media, officers have been vocal and are likely to continue expressing their political opinions.  

Officers and agency leaders should be cautious in balancing officers’ First Amendment rights against the agency’s legitimate interest in maintaining effective operations. That agency interest includes ensuring that officers’ statements in view of the public are consistent with fundamental agency values. The stakes can be extremely high in this area of personnel management as careers can be placed at risk.

 In this webinar, Attorney Matt Dolan will discuss:

  • Court guidance on the limits on First Amendment protections for speech by law enforcement officers
  • Conduct Unbecoming policies in an election year
  • Public versus private political speech
  • The nexus between political speech and officers’ official duties
  • The legal justifications for lawful restraints that can be placed on law enforcement officers

Instructor

Director, Dolan Consulting Group

| Attorney Matt Dolan

Matt Dolan is a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois, who specializes in training and advising public safety agencies in matters of labor and employment law. His practice experience focuses on employment discrimination claims brought under federal law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII"), the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA"). He received his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from DePaul University and his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Matt serves as a public safety instructor with Dolan Consulting Group. He has trained and advised thousands of public safety professionals throughout the United States in matters of legal liability related to personnel management.