Opinion ID: 2971441
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Police Chief Charles DeBord

Text: Tucker alleges that Police Chief DeBord authorized Officer Caldwell’s interviews of Tucker’s college professors, Officer Manley’s search of Tucker and Officer Manley’s direction to Officer Culton to investigate tax records at the Madison County Clerk’s office, as well as the so-called “poster patrols” and the patrols of Tucker’s subdivision. According to Tucker, Chief DeBord’s involvement in each of these incidents renders him liable for retaliation in violation of the First Amendment. With respect to the first three alleged incidents, we have already determined that no constitutional violation has occurred. Therefore, Chief DeBord is entitled to qualified immunity for his alleged role in these incidents. The question remains, however, whether Chief DeBord is entitled to qualified immunity in connection with his authorization of the poster patrols and the patrols of Tucker’s subdivision. As to these allegations, Tucker has failed to establish a constitutional violation because, again, the third element of the First Amendment retaliation standard is lacking. The evidence indicates that the patrols in question were conducted as part of the police investigation into the unprotected flyers, not the protected flyers. Tucker finds it particularly relevant that his subdivision, which the police allegedly patrolled, was located outside of the city limits. In the absence of any evidence indicating that the police are not entitled to patrol beyond city limits, however, we attach little significance to this fact. Because neither the poster patrols nor the patrols of Tucker’s subdivision violated Tucker’s First Amendment rights, Chief DeBord is entitled to qualified immunity for his role in sanctioning the patrols.