Understaffing Increasing Pressure on Federal Law Enforcement Officers
Across all agencies, federal law enforcement officers are stressed out. Even prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, agencies had been understaffing units and overworking their officers. Studies show that understaffing may lead to decreased job performance due to officer fatigue that causes diminished observational abilities. For many reasons—social distancing protocols, employee illness, etc.—the pandemic has exacerbated these issues, putting more pressure on federal law enforcement officers than ever before. Despite the efforts of you and your fellow officers trying to keep up with agency demands, problems will inevitably arise and, when they do, the agency is going to look for someone to blame.
One recent example of understaffing-related issues is the current situation at the Bureau of Prisons. According to a recent report by the GAO, the BOP has not adequately assessed the discernable risks to staff and inmate safety associated with staffing shortages. Understaffing has resulted in excessive overtime usage, demonstrating how officers are working for far longer than typically expected of federal law enforcement. The excessive overtime and understaffing leads to situations where employees are more likely to make mistakes—as the GAO report says, “when staff are mandated to work double shifts, they become exhausted and their observation skills are decreased.” Each additional mistake leads to increased exposure, whether civil, administrative, or criminal, for actions taken on the job. Federal law enforcement officers are at risk of being held accountable for actions taken in dangerous environments resulting from agency directives.
Federal law enforcement officers can protect themselves against allegations with professional liability insurance (PLI). FEDS Protection offers policies with $1 million or $2 million in civil liability protection for legal fees and indemnity costs in the event you are sued in your civil capacity (i.e., by an inmate). Our policy also includes $200,000 of legal representation coverage per incident for administrative actions and $100,000 of coverage for criminal defense costs. Annual premiums for FEDS Protection PLI start at $290, which is less than it can cost to hire a federal employment lawyer for an hour. Additionally, federal law enforcement officers are eligible for a reimbursement of up to 50% the cost of their PLI policy through their agency. To learn more about how a FEDS PLI policy can protect you and your career, visit http://www.fedsprotection.com or call (866) 955-FEDS, M-F 8:30am-6pm to speak directly to a representative.
*This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.