01/10/2026
At Gillespie Law Firm PLLC, we want to take a moment to recognize National Law Enforcement Day, even though we missed acknowledging it yesterday.
Attorney Rachel Gillespie is proud to count many dedicated law enforcement officers among her closest friends , including those who have served in leadership roles across our state. Rachel and her family feel safer because of the commitment to community-focused policing demonstrated by Minnesota’s local agencies and the extensive training they receive, including in de-escalation techniques and constitutional use-of-force standards grounded in Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989), and the Fourth Amendment’s protections against unreasonable seizures.
We also recognize the sacrifices that officers and their families make daily to protect and uphold the rule of law. We extend our sincere thanks to our local law enforcement agencies for the professionalism, responsiveness, and care they bring to our communities. Your presence and partnership help ensure that our family, our clients, and our law firm feel safe, supported, and protected, and we are deeply grateful for the work you do every day.
At the same time, we were deeply saddened and disturbed by the fatal shooting in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, in which a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed a woman during a federal enforcement action.
Under both Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985), and Graham v. Connor, deadly force is justified only when a reasonable officer in the same situation faces an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm. Federal law enforcement policy similarly restricts the use of deadly force to such circumstances, and questions about how those policies are applied — and how training in those policies is provided — deserve thoughtful public scrutiny and independent review.
We are disappointed by what appears to be a lack of transparency in federal training and accountability standards for ICE agents, and share the concern of many that this tragic incident underscores the need for training and oversight that reflect constitutional safeguards and community trust. We join voices calling for a thorough, transparent investigation and for federal policy reforms that ensure all officers — local and federal — are equipped and trained to protect life and constitutional rights.
