Critical Incidents

Perhaps a law enforcement officer's greatest time of need for legal services is immediately following a "critical incident." That is why an attorney from the Law Offices of Bobbitt Pinckard & Fields, A.P.C., is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

While many understand that an officer involved shooting constitutes a critical incident, the immediate need for legal services is much broader. Critical incidents constitute any conduct related to the course and scope of duty that: (1) threatens loss of life to you or someone in your presence; (2) threatens loss of employment; (3) threatens criminal prosecution; or (4) threatens high publicity. Examples of such critical incidents include: officer involved shootings, whether on-duty or off-duty; police vehicle accidents; significant use of force incidents; and, death-in-custody incidents.

Frequently, following a critical incident, there is an immediate need for legal representation as the law enforcement officer's agency may begin either a criminal or administrative investigation, or both. While investigators, supervisors and chiefs who are present at such investigation(s) may have concerns about your well-being, they have a job to do and cannot allow their personal feelings about an involved officer to get in the way.

Your association attorney is concerned only about you and your best interests. That is why, prior to providing a voluntary statement in a criminal investigation or submitting to a compelled administrative investigation following a critical incident, an officer should consult with legal representation.

If you are involved in a critical incident and need legal representation, please IMMEDIATELY contact the following at any time:

SDPOA member - contact the Watch Commander's office to activate the on-call attorney from our office.

DSASD member - contact the Communication Center to activate the on-call attorney from our office.

SDCPOA member - contact our office at (858) 467-1199 during normal business hours or a SDCPOA Board Member after hours, on weekends or holidays to activate the on-call attorney from our office.

PORAC LDF member - contact PORAC LDF at (800) 255-5610 for referral to the on-call attorney from our office.

We are also available to represent managers or other law enforcement personnel on private retainer who do not have a law enforcement association available to them or are members of such an association, but would prefer our legal counsel. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at (858) 467-1199.