The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether a California police officer’s constitutional rights were violated when the department reviewed personal text messages he had sent and received on a government-issued pager. Agreeing to hear a city appeal that might have ...

Tagged with: constitutional rights police officer U.S. Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Mumia Abu-Jamal, a former radio reporter and Black Panther whose conviction for the 1981 killing of a Philadelphia police officer sparked international controversy. The justices, without comment, left intact a federal appeals ...

Tagged with: Black Panther death row Mumia Abu-Jamal Philadelphia police officer U.S. Supreme Court

Ortega named to city’s judicial commission A former high-ranking police official is joining the Municipal Judicial Nominating Commission. Mayor Mark Funkhouser appointed Vince Ortega to the commission on Thursday. He replaces Nelsie Sweeney, a Kay Barnes appointee whose term expired ...

Tagged with: brutally beaten Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser Municipal Judicial Nominating Commission police officer Vince Ortega

The Kansas City Police Board of Commissioners says the decision to fire a police officer ultimately rests with its members. But an officer terminated by the commissioners for alleged use of excessive force contends he should be reinstated and that ...

Tagged with: fire John P. O'Connor Kansas City Police Board of Commissioners Missouri Supreme Court police officer Timothy Coffer