What is a potential condition for an officer to claim qualified immunity?

Qualified immunity is a legal doctrine that protects government officials, including law enforcement officers, from liability for civil damages as long as their actions do not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights. For an officer to successfully claim qualified immunity, one critical condition that must be met is that they acted according to agency policy.

When officers are following established protocols and procedures set forth by their departmental policies, they demonstrate that they are acting within the scope of their official duties and relying on guidance that is meant to ensure lawful and appropriate conduct. This adherence to agency policy indicates that the officer's actions are justified under the circumstances, which contributes to the assertion of qualified immunity by providing a framework for the legality of their actions. By acting in accordance with departmental standards, officers can help establish that their decisions were reasonable under the existing legal environment, thereby supporting their claim for immunity against civil suits.