What That Text Message on the Suspect’s Phone Could Mean for Your Case

Good Morning! It’s Monday, March 24th, 2025.

 🎯TODAY'S SCENARIO

Scenario:
You arrest a suspect during a traffic stop for a stolen firearm found in his vehicle. As you place him in cuffs, his iPhone on the passenger seat lights up with a message preview that says: “Got rid of it yet?”

You haven’t touched the phone yet.

🗓️ Inside This Issue: What You Need to Know

• Last Week in Policing: Key takeaways (March 17th– March 23rd, 2025)

• Case Law Brief: What you need to know about cell phone searches

• Officer Wellness: Protein and the 10:1 rule

 Weekly Law Enforcement Recap
(March 17th- March 23rd, 2025)

Weekly line of duty deaths: 1 | Yearly Line of Duty Death Total: 16

📄 Tragedy Strikes Harris County: 4 Deputies Die by Suicide in 6 Weeks
Four current and former Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies have taken their own lives in the past month and a half, prompting urgent discussions around mental health support for law enforcement. County officials are calling for more proactive mental health services and early intervention efforts. Read More

📄 Colorado Bill Aims to Ban Common Traffic Stop Question
A new Colorado bill proposes banning officers from asking, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” Lawmakers backing the bill say it would help reduce confusion and avoid self-incrimination. Police leaders argue it could complicate routine stops and reduce officer discretion. Read More

📄 Tennessee Launches New ‘Patch’ System for Officers Working Security Jobs
A new Tennessee initiative aims to bring more transparency to off-duty officers working private security. The PATCH system will publicly show which officers are working where—an effort to boost trust and accountability in secondary employment.
🔗 Read More

📄 Alabama Closes Legal Loophole in Police Impersonation Law
A loophole in Alabama’s law that allowed individuals to avoid prosecution for impersonating a police officer if they didn’t directly claim to be one has been closed. The new law targets behavior that creates the appearance of being an officer, not just explicit claims. Read More

📄 Florida Pushes for Mandatory Life Sentence in Officer Killings
Florida is moving closer to passing a bill that would make life imprisonment without parole mandatory for those convicted of killing a law enforcement officer. Supporters say it sends a strong message, while critics question its potential impact on due process.Read More

🏛 Caselaw Brief:
Riley v. California (2014) 🚔

In Riley v. California (2014), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that officers must obtain a warrant before searching the digital contents of a cell phone seized during an arrest.

🔹 Case Facts:

David Riley was pulled over for expired tags. After arresting him on unrelated charges, officers seized his smartphone and searched through texts and photos without a warrant.

The phone contained evidence tying him to gang activity and a shooting—but the Court ruled that accessing this data without a warrant violated the Fourth Amendment.

🔹 Key Takeaways for Officers:

✅ You can seize a phone during a lawful arrest.
❌ You cannot search its digital contents without a warrant.
✅ Phones are not like wallets—privacy expectations are much higher.
❌ Do not scroll, swipe, power on/off, or put it in airplane mode.
✅ Use a Faraday bag if you're worried about remote wiping.

🚨 Bottom Line:
Phones are protected under the Fourth Amendment. Even after arrest, you need a warrant to search digital data. Touching that phone without one could cost you the case. Secure it, don’t search it.

📍Bonus Tip:
States like Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota offer even stricter protections—where even powering off a phone, or putting it in airplane mode, without a warrant may be considered an illegal search.

 Officer Wellness:
Protein & the 10:1 Rule – Fueling for the Street

You need more than just caffeine and junk food to keep your body running at full capacity.

One simple nutrition rule that works:
🧠 Aim for 10 grams of protein for every 100 calories.
This is called the 10:1 protein-to-calorie ratio, and it's a great way to build muscle, stay full longer, and maintain energy levels—even on 12-hour shifts.

Packable Options:

• Jerky or turkey sticks (look for low-sugar brands like Chomps or Tillamook)

• Hard-boiled eggs

• Greek yogurt (especially Triple Zero or Ratio brands)

• Protein bars (look for 20g+ protein, <6g sugar – Quest, Barebells, or One Bars)

• Tuna or chicken packets (add hot sauce, mustard, or relish)

Convenience Store Pickups:

• String cheese + a pack of jerky

• Premier Protein or Fairlife shakes

• Hard-boiled eggs (yes, Sheetz has them)

• Nuts + beef stick combo

• Protein bars

Quick tip:
Hungry and having a hard time not grabbing the donut on the patrol room table??Keep a small stash or high protein snacks in your locker or patrol bag so you’re never stuck choosing between junk or nothing.

Your body is your backup—treat it like gear that needs to work on demand.