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.
The bill called for changing the standard for releasing police K-9s to bite someone, which would make it the same standard for officers using deadly force
The $230M legislation provides funding for armed SROs at all public schools, increases physical safeguards and enhances mental health services for students
People with small amounts of methamphetamine, heroin and LSD are subject to non-criminal violations and given the choice to call a statewide hotline or pay a $100 fine
"In other words, this current board might decide to reorganize the county fire department... take it out of existence," a Vance County commissioner said
Timothy W. Gorman ruled that Ogdensburg violated the collective bargaining deal when it forced the FD to have than five members on a shift over two years