04/29/2025
PROTECT POLICE - KEEP QUALIFIED IMMUNITY
Qualified immunity is quite the hot topic right now with this newly proposed petition moving forward in Ohio. It’s time we say our piece on things because the people voting on this deserve to be educated.
Qualified immunity is a legal principle that protects police officers from being personally sued for actions performed in the line of duty, *unless* they knowingly violate clearly established law. You read that right. This does not mean total immunity. This means that we are still held liable, both civilly and criminally, if our actions in the line of duty violate any laws or constitutional rights to citizens.
This protection is crucial because it allows officers to make quick, split-second decisions in dangerous situations without the constant fear of personal financial ruin. You might argue, “Well if you’re doing everything right, why would you worry about being sued?” Well, for starters, anyone can sue for anything these days. But it is also no secret that we are not the most liked profession anymore. And there are people out there who do nothing else with their free time but find ways to make our lives even more difficult. It doesn’t matter how much we do right to some people, we will always be wrong.
Without qualified immunity, good, dedicated officers—those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities—could be driven out of the profession by the threat of endless lawsuits. The proposed bill to eliminate qualified immunity poses a serious risk to public safety, as it would likely accelerate the already alarming trend of experienced officers leaving the force. We fear that the passing of this bill will have a fatal effect on the law enforcement profession. It is critical to know what you’re voting for on this. Please decline signing this petition. For the sake of maintaining public safety and supporting the officers who uphold the law with integrity.
