From Our Newsletter

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March 14, 2026
Trooper’s “Highly Unbecoming” Conduct Towards Coworkers At After-Hours Event Did Not Warrant Termination
A Michigan State Police Trooper was intoxicated at a Michigan State Police Troopers Association (MSPTA) event and engaged in serious misconduct. Surveil­lance video showed the trooper placing her fingers into the “anal crevice” of a male coworker, striking another coworker in the genitals, and attem
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February 14, 2026
No Weingarten Rights For Arbitration Witness, But Interview Nonetheless Coercive
Sergeant Jeffrey Tagmyer, a Pittsburgh police officer, was subpoenaed as a wit­ness by his union, the Fraternal Order of Police, to testify in a discipline grievance arbitration for another officer, Sergeant Brian Elledge. After the initial arbitration hearing was continued, City Assistant Solicitor
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January 10, 2026
Former Police Attorney’s Post-Termination “Letter To The World” Results In License Suspension
The Missouri Supreme Court suspended attorney Ryan Christopher McCarty from the practice of law for disclosing confidential client information after his termination as associate general counsel for the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD). McCarty began working for the KCPD in June 2022 and was term
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First Thursday Podcast

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55:50

March 5, 2026
First Thursday, April 2026
Upcoming seminars from LRIS (00:01:12)The CasesCourt Rejects Late First Amendment Challenge to “Talk My S**t” Termination, Shelton v Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (6th Cir. 2026)(00:02:40)No ULP When Citgy Refused To Make Firefighters Whole For W-2 Errors, Rochester Fire Fighters Ass’n v.
R Richard Poulson, LRIS
Richard Poulson, LRIS, 03/05/2026

57:11

March 5, 2026
First Thursday, March 2026
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in the case United States v. Hemani. The case deals with whether federal criminal statute 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), which makes it a felony for an “unlawful user” of a controlled substance to possess a firearm, is constitutional when it is used to pr
R Richard Poulson, LRIS
Richard Poulson, LRIS, 03/05/2026

45:10

February 5, 2026
First Thursday, February 2026
Employers often try to win disputes by focusing on technical definitions or procedural arguments. They will apply a narrow definition to an employee’s workplace right and reframe the dispute so the protection seems not to apply.All four cases covered in this month’s podcast are examples of this tact
R Richard Poulson, LRIS
Richard Poulson, LRIS, 02/05/2026

36:34

January 15, 2026
First Thursday, January 2026, Part 2
In part two of this month’s podcast, Rick offers his predictions for 2026 for three different categories.The economy – boom or bust? (00:02:10)Recruitment and retention – will federal agencies poach local law enforcement officers? (00:14:40)The courts – big changes in equal opportunity. (00:23:37)
R Richard Poulson, LRIS
Richard Poulson, LRIS, 01/15/2026

01:02:58

January 8, 2026
First Thursday, January 2026, Part 1
A look back, a look ahead.We took January 1 off for the New Year’s Day holiday, so this First Thursday episode is posting on the second Thursday. We will be posting a bonus episode on the third Thursday (and you thought there were no more Christmas gifts coming).This episode will cover what Rick thi
R Richard Poulson, LRIS
Richard Poulson, LRIS, 01/08/2026

59:49

December 4, 2025
First Thursday, December 2025
We here at LRIS would like to wish everyone a joyous and peaceful holiday season. Here’s what in store for this last First Thursday podcast of 2025:Upcoming seminars from LRIS (00:01:53)The cases:State ex rel. GateHouse Media Ohio Holdings II, Inc. v. Columbus Police Dept., Slip Opinion No. 2025-Ohi
R Richard Poulson, LRIS
Richard Poulson, LRIS, 12/04/2025

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Even After Being Cleared Of Charges, Some Massachusetts Police Officers Can’t Go Back To Work
04/02/2026
For any police officer charged with a felony in Massachusetts, discipline from the state’s police oversight board is automatic — their certification to work in law enforcement is suspended.But when officers are cleared of those criminal charges, either by acquittal or some other disposition, the Pea
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AKRON, OH — A Memorandum of Understanding has been agreed upon between the City of Akron and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 “that will update language around the discipline process reflected in the police union contract.”“These language changes clarify the overall discipline process and set expec
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HOUSTON — Two years ago, Houston firefighters received a billion-dollar settlement in a years-long contract dispute with the City of Houston for raises and back pay.A few months ago, arbitration documents show that the city and the firefighter union went to arbitration because the city wasn’t implem