Originally Posted by
Superguy
But would you trust your employer blindly not to give an illegal order?
You may not have to know it came from Tennesee v. Garner, but knowing that there is a court case or law showing that something bad can happen to an LEO can be helpful if a superior gives an order to shoot that felon anyway. By not knowing about that precedent, the LEO would shoot and put himself in a whole mess of trouble.
Sure, it's always better to know than not know, but if you follow policy then you're in the clear. Unless it's a policy to gas people at Auschwitz kind of policy.
The ones that get you jammed up are usually very clear, and almost always involve using force. You know when you're stepping over the line, every time.