Page 205 - Original 2020 Legal Guide By Jack Ryan

Task: Training

City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378 (1989).

An agency that fails to train officers for recurring tasks that law

enforcement officers face, may be liable for failing to train the

officers, where the lack of training or poor training foreseeably leads

to a constitutional violation.

Failure to Train Established where:

• Agency fails to train an officer in a subject where there is an

“obvious need” for training. i.e. firearms and deadly force.

• Agency is aware, or should be aware of a pattern of conduct by

officers, which evidences the need for training or better training to

avoid constitutional violations and the agency fails to take action on

this need.

©2020 Jack Ryan Legal & Liability Risk Management Institute 204