• mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      4 hours ago

      Nope, it’s unfortunately not that easy in the US. Not only can police use your property for this… They aren’t liable for any damage they cause while doing so.

      Lech v. City of Greenwood Village is a relevant national case. Basically, police demolished a neighbor’s house while executing a warrant, and then refused to reimburse the neighbor. There is a Takings clause of the 5th amendment, that says the government can claim eminent domain and take private property, but they must provide just compensation for the property that was taken… The homeowner tried to argue that the demolition fell under the Takings clause, and therefore he was entitled to just compensation.

      The Supreme Court ruled that the police had no obligation to reimburse, as long as the damage occurred due to official police power. The SCOTUS essentially ruled that official police powers (like executing warrants, chasing suspects during an attempted arrest, or staging standoffs) do not invoke the Takings clause. Even if the powers were not directed at the person whose property was taken.

      So the pigs have carte blanche to use your shit, as long as they can justify the use as part of executing an official police power.