Federal Officer Allegations are Unsettling

Sometimes, bad things happen to good federal law enforcement officers. Are you emotionally, financially, and legally prepared to defend yourself against an allegation? Learn how FEDS Protection can help.

Liability insurance often becomes necessary for federal law enforcement officers when there is a major event, operational event, or one that results (or is alleged to result) in safety concerns, public alarm, injury, death, oversight or a security vulnerability or breach. The cost to defend a decision, action or inaction could be cost prohibitive without liability insurance in place – even if you are ultimately vindicated.

1. Legal Defense: The FEDS policy will provide you with an attorney to defend in the event that DOJ makes a determination that it is not "in the interest of the United States” to represent the employee (a discretionary DOJ decision). This can occur notwithstanding that the employee was clearly acting within the scope of his/her employment. This most often happens if you are being investigated for the very same reason that you are being sued—you can see that DOJ will not want to be on both sides of that. Should you find yourself facing a civil suit (or Bivens action) or criminal charge without DOJ representation, defending yourself can run $25,000 to well over $100,000 in legal fees; and
2. Pays Damages: The FEDS policy provides indemnity protection at either the one or two million dollar limit should an employee be found liable for which the agency will not indemnify. An employee can be held liable and be forced to pay the judgment even when the DOJ is defending the case. In other words, if DOJ defends and loses, the employee can still be liable.

• Alleged abuse of investigative authority;
• Alleged abuse of position;
• Lost service weapon or alleged failure to properly safeguard weapon;
• Failure to follow SOP or other supervisory instructions;
• Negligent performance of duties resulting in escape of illegal alien, fugitive or subject, or other operational error(s);
• Allegedly providing inaccurate or false information in an investigative document or in court testimony;
• Whistleblower retaliation; and
• Ethical allegations.

• defend against allegations;
• prepare you for the agency administration or investigation process;
• attend the investigative interview with you; and
• defend you in any resulting disciplinary action (both at the agency level and at the MSPB).

LEOSA coverage was created in response to concerns initially brought about by probation and pretrial officers to fill in the gaps in civil liability exposure. The FEDS LEOSA endorsement provides civil liability coverage (legal defense and indemnification) for legal and justified acts of qualified federal LEOs in protecting themselves or others from criminals and terrorists in the event that they are faced with a threat while off-duty.

LEOSA is available only as an endorsement to our PLI policy and can be added on the Federal Employee PLI application as supplementary coverage. More information regarding LEOSA coverage can be found on our Products Page.

• Legal representation for civil matters is not capped by administrative sublimits. While all carriers will indemnify (in the case of a judgment) up to the limits of the policy, FEDS will not cap the defense at the administrative limits of the policy.
• Coverage is included for law enforcement officers who are serving outside of CONUS or in other international posts of duties – at no additional cost. Of equal importance to law enforcement officers, in certain cases, FEDS will appoint coverage counsel prior to DOJ's determination of scope and interest.
• FEDS offers true "LEOSA” coverage. The FEDS policy fills the LEOSA civil exposure gaps similar to your on-duty civil liability gaps. The FEDS LEOSA coverage provides coverage for any legal and justified act, error or omission pursuant to LEOSA.
• Coverage is included for law enforcement managers and supervisors – at no additional cost - for employment practices liability claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination made against federal managers and supervisors.
• FEDS President and Founder, Anthony Vergnetti, is a former federal attorney of a law enforcement agency who has continually demonstrated his understanding of and commitment to the federal law enforcement community.