Opinion ID: 2974525
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Police Chief Jones

Text: Regarding supervisory liability under § 1983, this Circuit has held that “[a]t a minimum, a § 1983 plaintiff must show that a supervisory official at least implicitly authorized, approved knowingly acquiesced in the unconstitutional conduct of the offending subordinate.” Turner v. City of Taylor, 412 F.3d 629, 643 (6th Cir. 2005) (emphasis added). This rule finds support in other circuits as well. A.M. v. Luzerne County Juvenile Det. Ctr., 372 F.3d 572, 586 (3d Cir. 2004) (holding that there are two theories of supervisory liability, both requiring a violation of constitutional rights); Lipsett v. Univ. of Puerto Rico, 864 F.2d 881, 902 (1st Cir. 1988) (setting forth a two-part test for supervisory liability, one part of which requires a constitutional violation). Accordingly, if there is no unconstitutional conduct by an offending subordinate, as in the instant case, a plaintiff cannot make the required showing. Therefore, the district court properly dismissed Plaintiff-Appellant’s claim against Police Chief Jones as well.