Do Police Officers Have a Duty to Stop a Suicidal Person From Killing Themselves?

At the scene of a non-criminal barricade, typically the legal dilemma officers face comes down to two questions:

1. Do the police “have to” take the suicidal party into custody?
2. Are police officers liable if they leave, and the suicidal party harms himself or another person?

In this guide, we will examine each question by setting aside cop folklore (“You’re going to get sued and lose your house!”) and opinions and instead focus on facts. We have spent years researching how state and federal laws impact the notion of duty and liability and now want you to have access to that information.

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