Law Enforcement Liability

At this time, Norris Insurance can only obtain Law Enforcement Liability coverage in Indiana. If you work or live in another state, we suggest you go to Trusted Choice for a local agent in your state.

Law Enforcement Liability Policy – Part 1

Law Enforcement Liability coverage was developed to respond to losses that result from “wrongful acts” due to acts, errors or omissions of law enforcement agencies such as police and sheriff departments. It is critical protection that should be carried by any law enforcement agency. Protection extends to political entities and their public officials, law enforcement officers, other employees, auxiliary personnel, reserves, and authorized volunteers. Private companies that offer security services, such as patrol or guard services, have similar exposures to loss and they also qualify for coverage under Law Enforcement Liability policies.

There is no standard Law Enforcement Liability coverage form or policy. Insurance companies that provide this protection have developed forms that reflect the type of law enforcement agencies and security situations that they have chosen to target. Some insurers may select their preferences among classes such as:

Airport Police
County Police Departments
Government Building Security Staff
Highway Patrol
Municipal Police Departments
Private Security Firms
Sheriff Departments
State Police
Transportation Authorities
Various entities that run jails or prisons (such as stadiums or arenas)

Please see part two of this discussion for more information on what is provided by Law Enforcement Liability Policies.

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Law Enforcement Liability Policy – Part 2

There is a wide variety in the type and scope of law enforcement and security operations. Therefore, Law Enforcement Liability forms and policies vary significantly, it is important to review any particular policy to make sure it provides the desired coverage.

Special coverage is necessary because protection is excluded by general liability policies that are designed only for the type of losses that are typical for owning and operating a regular business. Law Enforcement Liability policies are available to handle incidents such as:

Police Misconduct
Innocents harmed in improper, high-speed chases
Excessive use of force
Harm due to dereliction of duty (such as failure to provide protection)
Property damage related to law enforcement duties
Coverage for incidents involving personnel during moonlighting activities (Note: this is available ONLY when the covered entity has given permission to employees to moonlight)
Incidents that occur when providing first aid or emergency medical treatment that is directly related to enforcement activities
Limited coverage for damage to personal property of others that is damaged or lost while in the custody of the law enforcement entity

Naturally, the cost of providing a legal defense of lawsuits is covered. However, this critical component may be offered either as part of the policy’s stated insurance limits or separately. It is very important to be aware of the method used. Litigation in this area tends to be both complicated and expensive. When defense costs are provided as part of the policy limits, those limits must be sufficiently high to account for erosion.

Particular attention must also be applied to how a given policy addresses application of policy limits, deductibles and self-insured retentions. The methods used by different carriers may vary substantially, so careful comparisons must be made to be sure that the proper coverage is secured.

Law enforcement jobs are more dangerous than most and they carry a special need for extra coverage. The Law Enforcement Liability policy meets that need.