Police Chief Prevails in Section 1983 Action

The plaintiffs sued a local police chief, claiming that his alleged dereliction of duty allowed a dangerous individual to remain free and ultimately injure one individual and kill another in a shootout. The United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims, ruling that there is no legal duty for law enforcement officers to protect individuals from violence by a fellow citizen. The Court further determined that the police chief’s actions did not rise to the level necessary to support a Constitutional due process violation claim.