Through the passing and enforcement of laws, governments wield a powerful tool for keeping their communities safe. In this section, we highlight the myriad ways local governments engage with the legal system to move their communities forward and protect their citizens. Though by no means a perfect system – enforcement inequities continue to make the headlines – local leaders are striving to create laws that work fairly for all.
Gabriel Watson said his job was “constructively terminated;” Portland officials said he was laid off after he blacked out on duty and refused to take a fitness test
Both suits allege that the L.A. County sheriff's and fire departments violated the plaintiffs' 14th Amendment rights when employees shared photos of the scene
U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia Altonaga wrote that the suit was dismissed for several reasons, including the fact that the law does not take effect until 2023
An external investigation found evidence of racial harassment at the Everett Fire Department consistent with the complaints made by former member Jason Anderson
A request for an injunction would prevent the city from requiring workers to disclose their vaccination status or be disciplined for not being vaccinated