A Carroll County, Virginia sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed Friday while conducting a welfare check after a family member requested law enforcement check on a resident, according to the Associated Press. Deputy Logan Utt, a military veteran who joined the department in 2023, died from his injuries; a second deputy was struck in his ballistic vest and was in stable condition. The suspect, identified as 55-year-old Michael Timothy Puckett, fled the scene and was being sought by law enforcement, who warned he should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. Sheriff Kevin Kemp said: “Today, Carroll County has lost a hero, and a family has suffered an unimaginable loss.” 💙🖤 More here

AI Supercharging Cybercrime

The FBI’s latest Internet Crime Complaint Center report reveals cybercriminals are rapidly adopting AI, with more than 22,000 AI-related scam complaints logged last year totaling $893 million in losses — the first year the bureau has broken out that category separately, according to the Wall Street Journal. Government-impersonation scams nearly doubled to 32,000 complaints, now featuring AI-generated deepfake audio and video of public officials and spoofed caller IDs that display legitimate agency numbers. Internet crimes targeting people under 20 surged 74% in one year to more than 31,000 complaints. Cryptocurrency investment fraud remained the largest single source of losses at $7.2 billion — up from $5.8 billion the prior year — though the FBI’s Operation Level Up has so far identified and notified more than 8,000 victims, saving an estimated $511 million. Experts warn the worst is yet to come: “These are the lowest number of AI complaints we are ever going to see.” 🤖 More here

Minneapolis Police Chief Resigns

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara resigned Tuesday after an investigation found he had interfered with a probe into his own conduct, according to NBC News. The matter began with an anonymous complaint alleging O’Hara had engaged in sexual relationships with city employees — allegations an outside investigation ultimately found unsubstantiated. A subsequent inquiry, however, found O’Hara had deleted a contact card from his city-issued phone in an apparent effort to shield evidence from investigators and had discussed the investigation with an employee after being explicitly instructed not to. Mayor Jacob Frey, who had informed O’Hara that termination was forthcoming, accepted his resignation and issued a written reprimand for serious misconduct. “What I can’t allow is a breach of trust,” Frey said. “When trust is broken, it becomes extremely difficult to continue leading effectively.” Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell will serve as acting chief. O’Hara had led the department since 2022 in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder. 🔗 More here

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ICE Agent Arrested in Shooting

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer has been arrested in Texas on charges stemming from a January shooting in Minnesota during the federal government’s Operation Metro Surge immigration enforcement surge, according to Politico. Christian Castro, 52, faces four counts of second-degree assault for the non-fatal shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan immigrant in the country lawfully, as well as one count of falsely reporting a crime for allegedly lying to ICE supervisors to justify his actions. State prosecutors allege Castro fired through the front door of a home while pursuing another individual, striking Sosa-Celis. Charges against Sosa-Celis and a roommate — who had been accused of attacking agents with a broom and snow shovel — were later dropped. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said: “Nobody is above the law, including agents of the federal government.” 🔗 More here

Funding Bulletproof Police Vehicles

U.S. Representative Roger Williams (R-Texas) has introduced the Bulletproof Law Enforcement Vehicles Act, legislation that would amend the Homeland Security Act to allow federal grant funding to be used for vehicle security upgrades — including bullet-resistant windows — for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, according to Police1. Introduced during National Police Week, the bill addresses what supporters say is a current gap in federal funding flexibility that prevents departments from using existing grants for critical vehicle safety improvements. The legislation mirrors programs already underway in Texas, where the Vehicle Armor Grant has provided millions of dollars to equip patrol vehicles with bullet-resistant components. The bill is backed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the Texas Municipal Police Association, and the Police Officers’ Defense Coalition. 🔗 More here

Troopers Deployed

Robotaxis Create Headaches

As autonomous vehicle companies like Waymo, Tesla, and Zoox expand across the country, a growing number of incidents are creating new challenges for law enforcement and emergency responders, according to the Wall Street Journal. A Waymo vehicle in Austin briefly blocked an ambulance responding to a mass shooting in March; in December, a San Francisco blackout caused Waymo robotaxis to freeze at intersections, blocking traffic; and vehicles in both San Antonio and Atlanta drove into flooded streets and became stranded. The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into Waymo after one of its vehicles struck a child near a Santa Monica elementary school, and the NHTSA is separately examining whether the software exercises appropriate caution around schools during drop-off hours. Waymo, the current market leader operating in 11 cities with plans to expand to 19 more, maintains its vehicles are involved in 80% fewer injury-causing crashes than human drivers — but critics argue that crash-per-mile metrics don’t capture the full range of public safety concerns posed by edge-case failures in real-world conditions. 🚕 More here

Cameras Face Class Action

A class action lawsuit filed against Boulder, Colorado’s police chief argues the city’s use of 31 Flock Safety license plate cameras constitutes a warrantless surveillance dragnet that violates residents’ constitutional rights, according to Courthouse News Service. The suit highlights that outside law enforcement agencies searched Boulder’s camera database 424,000 times in a single month, U.S. Border Patrol accessed the network more than 100 times before Boulder cut off immigration authorities’ access, and a Texas county that had restricted abortion access searched the Boulder database 600 times following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. The lead plaintiff, a Boulder commuter, was denied access to his own vehicle’s images and metadata when he requested them from the police department. Flock Safety countered that fixed license plate reader technology has been upheld as constitutional by courts across the country dozens of times. The case has been assigned to a Boulder County district judge. ⚖️ More here

Boulder Chief on Podcast

**Hear direct from Chief Redfern who was on a previous podcast

In this episode, Chief Stephen Redfearn of the Boulder Police Department reflects on a remarkable law enforcement career that began as a teenage dispatcher and evolved into leading one of the nation’s most closely watched departments. Chief Redfearn shares firsthand insights from responding to landmark tragedies such as Columbine, the Aurora theater shooting, and more recent acts of mass violence, including the Pearl Street terror attack in Boulder. He talks about how those experiences have shaped him, the impact on officer wellness, and the importance of community trust. The conversation also explores Boulder’s innovative use of technology and AI—from AI report writing to drones and the use of transparency dashboards—and why, even in an era of rapid technological change, policing remains a deeply human profession.

Curbing Distracted Trucking

Colorado State Patrol is highlighting the growing use of AI-powered in-cab cameras in commercial trucks as a tool to reduce distracted driving crashes, according to CBS Colorado. The cameras detect when drivers look away from the road, use a phone, or show signs of fatigue — alerting the driver in real time or notifying safety managers. Trooper Hunter Matthews noted that a fully loaded semitruck traveling at highway speed can require up to two to three football fields to stop, making even brief distractions potentially fatal. The technology is gaining traction as trucking companies recognize its impact on insurance rates and safety scores. Colorado State Patrol’s “Seconds Matter” campaign reinforces the message that eyes off the road — even momentarily — can be the difference between a close call and a tragedy. 🚛 More here

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The San Diego Police Department released a preliminary timeline Friday of the Islamic Center of San Diego shooting that killed three men — Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nadir Awad — with the two teenage shooters found dead from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds nearby, according to NBC 7 San Diego. Police addressed questions about whether staffing shortages played a role, stating that once the call was elevated to Priority 1, officers were en route within approximately five minutes, and when reports of an active shooter came in, a countywide Priority 0 response put officers on scene within four minutes. SDPD acknowledged staffing will be part of its ongoing review. Both SDPD and the FBI urged the public and media to stop sharing unverified photos of the suspects circulating online, noting that incorrect images had already led to at least one wrongful identification. 🔗 More here

Streets Barricaded Over Violence

Frustrated by repeated shootings tied to prostitution and human trafficking activity along Seattle’s Aurora Avenue, North Seattle residents have taken matters into their own hands — hauling in large metal planters, dirt, and gravel to partially block residential side streets used as escape routes by gunmen, according to KOMO News. The self-imposed barricades follow a weekend shootout near Aurora Avenue and North 98th Street in which police recovered roughly 40 shell casings, with bullets striking nearby buildings, vehicles, and a fourth-floor apartment — and a separate incident where a round stopped near the bassinet of a 6-week-old baby. Critics warn the makeshift barriers could delay ambulances and fire crews, and the city requires permits for any public right-of-way closures. Seattle police said they are increasing late-night patrols and deploying the department’s Gun Violence Reduction Unit. 🔗 More here

Academia Is Failing Police

University of Pennsylvania criminologist Jerry Ratcliffe argues in a newly published paper that mainstream academia has become actively hostile to policing scholarship — and that the consequences will ultimately harm the communities police serve. Writing in Evidence Base, Ratcliffe documents a pattern of ideological suppression within criminology and criminal justice departments: policing scholars shouted down in faculty meetings, job offers rescinded over past law enforcement careers, personal health information leaked to doxxing websites, and graduate students discouraged from pursuing police research. He argues that a 30-to-1 liberal-to-conservative ratio in the field, combined with the rise of “activist-scholars,” has driven quality policing researchers out of academia — leaving departments less equipped to provide the evidence-based reform and critical oversight that law enforcement actually needs. His proposed solution is a significant expansion of “pracademics” — current or former police officers with scientific training who work inside departments, bridge the gap between research and practice, and can deliver evidence-based insights without depending on an increasingly hostile university system. Ratcliffe warns that without intervention, police departments will receive less effective academic scrutiny, reform efforts will slow, and government institutions will see little value in funding policing research at all. 🔗 Paper here

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Police Staffing Rebounds

A new national survey from the Police Executive Research Forum finds that sworn officer staffing has rebounded to its 2022 level after years of post-pandemic decline, driven by a 17.6% increase in hiring in 2025 — 40% more than in 2021, according to PERF. Resignations have stabilized and remain 15% below their 2021 peak, though retirements rose 16% in 2025. The survey, covering 197 agencies collectively employing more than 138,000 sworn officers, shows agencies have employed a range of strategies to boost hiring including signing bonuses, lowered educational requirements, and streamlined hiring processes. Despite the progress, PERF Executive Director Chuck Wexler noted that staffing remains below pre-pandemic 2020 levels, chiefs continue to rely heavily on overtime to fill gaps, and competition from federal agencies offering signing bonuses as high as $75,000 has made recruiting qualified candidates increasingly difficult. 👮‍♂️ PERF report here

Operation Red Card

Bodycam Footage Released

Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia released body camera footage Friday detailing two fatal officer-involved shootings that occurred hours apart early May 16, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. In the first incident, officers responded to multiple 911 calls about gunfire at a house party and shot and killed 25-year-old Emmett Mayo, a known gang member who ran toward officers with an illegally possessed and modified Glock switch-equipped firearm — making it fully automatic. More than 30 shell casings were recovered at the scene. Hours later, while officers were still investigating, a white SUV repeatedly charged at them, leading to a chase and ultimately the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Jorge Contreras, who Garcia said had a history of mental illness. An officer was injured in the incidents. 🔗 More here

Record Low Murder Rate

Crime data analyst Jeff Asher writes in his Jeff-alytics newsletter that 2026 will likely set a new record for the lowest U.S. murder rate ever recorded by the FBI — building on what was already a historic low in 2025. Data through April from a sample of 30 major cities shows murders down 19.1% compared to the same period last year, consistent with figures from the Gun Violence Archive, the Real-Time Crime Index, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association, all pointing to another significant decline. Asher projects that even a modest 10% annual drop would push the murder rate below 4 per 100,000 — the lowest since the FBI began using its current methodology in 1958. While the pace of decline appears to be gradually slowing from the record drops seen in 2024 and 2025, Asher says a reversal is unlikely, noting the country is “so far into uncharted murder reduction waters” that predicting what comes next remains difficult. 📉 Jeff-alytics Substack

Why Officers Don’t Seek Help

Research summarized in the new issue of Applied Police Briefings finds that stigma, fear of career consequences, and departmental mistrust remain the primary barriers to officers seeking mental health support. Of 297 sworn and civilian personnel surveyed at a large metropolitan department, only about one-third reported using mental health services — though that rate exceeds national averages. Civilian staff were nearly five times more likely to seek services than sworn officers. Among those not using resources, 44% said they lacked time, 20% cited departmental mistrust, and nearly 10% feared disciplinary repercussions or damage to their reputation. Researchers recommend that agencies reduce stigma through strong leadership, ensure confidentiality policies are clearly communicated, offer both internal and external services, and take a preventive rather than crisis-driven approach to officer wellness — extending support to family members as well. 🔗 More here

Santa Fe Names Interim Chief

Deputy Chief Ben Valdez has been named Santa Fe’s next interim police chief, taking over June 4 following the retirement of interim Chief Thomas Grundler, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Valdez, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who received a Purple Heart after being wounded in Fallujah, joined the department in 2005 and rose to deputy chief in 2018. He has been credited with reducing the department’s officer vacancy rate to near zero and was previously assigned to fix systemic problems in the department’s evidence room following a high-profile evidence loss in a murder case. Mayor Michael Garcia has directed the interim city manager to begin a search for a permanent chief, with the position to be advertised next week. Two captains — Amanda Montaño and Lawrence Barnett — were also promoted to deputy chief as part of the leadership transition. 🔗 More here

Cyclist Deaths Up 86%

A series of violent incidents between drivers and cyclists this spring — including a Florida shooting, a California road rage attack, and a Georgia SUV assault — reflects a troubling national trend, according to USA Today. Bicyclist fatalities have risen 86% since 2010, with 1,103 cyclists killed in traffic crashes in 2024 alone, driven in part by more cyclists on the road, wider roads that encourage higher speeds, and increased reckless driving since the pandemic. Experts note that road rage runs in both directions — drivers frustrated by slower cyclists and cyclists who feel threatened by vehicles — but cyclists bear a fundamentally greater physical risk in any conflict. Infrastructure gaps compound the problem: bike lanes are frequently too narrow, obstructed by parked cars, and unprotected from drifting traffic. 🚴🏻‍♀️ More here

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In a deeply personal essay published in Police Chief Magazine, Dr. Serena Liebengood recounts the death of her husband, U.S. Capitol Police Officer Howard “Howie” Liebengood, who died by suicide on January 9, 2021 — three days after working through the events of January 6th with no sleep, no decompression, and no end to his shift schedule in sight. Howie was 51, a 15-year veteran, physically fit, happily married, and financially stable — every protective factor in place — yet none of it was enough to offset years of cumulative occupational strain compounded by a traumatic event with no relief. Research shows law enforcement officers are 54% more likely to die by suicide than the general working population, yet comprehensive wellness programs remain the exception rather than the norm. Dr. Liebengood argues that officer suicide is not an individual failure but a systemic one — rooted in staffing models, scheduling practices, organizational culture, and a health care system largely unaware of law enforcement’s elevated risk. 🔗 More here

Chief Earns Second Term

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has appointed Police Chief Elaine Bryant to a second five-year term, citing significant crime reductions and strengthened community relations since she took over in 2021, according to Spectrum News. Bryant, the first Black woman and first outside appointment to lead the Columbus Division of Police, inherited a department that had recorded 73 homicides through May 2021 — a number that stands at just 21 at the same point in 2026, the lowest year-to-date total in at least 26 years. During her tenure she launched the Crime Gun Intelligence Center, a Non-Fatal Shooting Team that achieved a 92% case closure rate in its pilot area, and Beyond Enforcement — the first juvenile intervention program of its kind approved by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. 🔗 More here

Sacramento Swears In Chief

Sacramento has sworn in Deputy Chief Zachary Bales as its interim police chief, succeeding retiring Chief Kathy Lester — the first woman to lead the department — who is stepping down after more than three decades in law enforcement, according to the Sacramento Bee. Bales, a 24-year department veteran and former Army captain who joined SPD after September 11, has worked as a patrol officer, homicide detective, internal affairs investigator, and deputy chief of investigations. He inherits a department operating 11% below full staffing — 650 sworn officers against 733 authorized positions — amid a $66 million city budget deficit that has prompted discussions about cutting vacant positions. The department paid more than $15 million in overtime last year. Bales said his focus is continuity: "We're going to continue to combat violent crime. We're going to continue to innovate and push our technology initiatives forward." He has not ruled out applying for the permanent chief position when the city launches its search. 🔗 More here

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Milliseconds

A Michigan police chief is releasing body camera footage of a near-deadly encounter to warn students about the dangers of a popular senior prank game, according to CBS Detroit. A Davison Township officer responding to a suspicious activity call approached what he believed was an active burglary, only to have a high school senior jump out and spray him with a squirt gun. Chief Jay Rendon said the officer had “milliseconds” to decide not to fire. “That kid’s family should be planning a funeral right now,” Rendon said. “That’s how close this was.” Rendon is urging students who continue playing to notify police in advance, gather in public spaces like parks, and use only large, brightly colored water guns — warning that dark-colored guns, even with an orange tip, can be indistinguishable from real firearms in a split-second encounter. 🔫 More here

Indy Enforces Summer Curfew

Indianapolis Police Chief Tanya Terry is getting ahead of summer by partnering with area schools to share a video message and letter outlining this year’s extended juvenile curfew, which takes effect for 120 days through around Labor Day, according to WTHR. Now in its second year, the temporary curfew requires children ages 15-16 to be home by 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on weekends, while those under 15 must be off public streets by 9 p.m. any night of the week. Teens found in violation may be held until a parent or guardian is contacted. Terry said the curfew is paired with community programs, sports, and mentorship opportunities to give young people structured alternatives during the summer months. 🔗 More here

LPRs Split a City

A dispute over AI-powered license plate readers has plunged Troy, New York into a constitutional standoff, with the Republican mayor declaring a state of emergency to keep 26 Flock Safety cameras running after the Democratic city council moved to halt funding, according to the Washington Post. The cameras — which snap photos of every passing vehicle and create digital records including bumper stickers and other identifying details — were installed by the police department beginning in 2021 without council approval or public input, despite city policy requiring council sign-off on contracts over $35,000. Police say the cameras have aided in solving major crimes including two homicides, while critics argue they enable unchecked surveillance and raise concerns about data security and potential use by federal immigration authorities. The dispute mirrors a growing national debate — an estimated 90,000 Flock cameras are now in use across the country, and more than 60 communities have canceled or rejected contracts with the company. 🔗 More here

Second Great Crime Decline

The United States may be living through a second “Great Crime Decline” — one that rivals the historic drop in violence seen in the 1990s — with murder rates potentially at the lowest levels ever recorded by the FBI, according to The Trace. Through April, New York City recorded its fewest homicides ever in data going back to 1960, with Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, and New Orleans posting similarly historic lows in 2026. Crime analyst Jeff Asher estimates the country saw 6,000 to 8,000 fewer murder victims in 2025 than in each of the peak COVID years, marking the third consecutive year of historically large declines. The cause remains unclear — the drop has occurred across all types of cities, during a period of reduced police staffing and no major policy breakthrough — leading Asher to caution that without understanding what is driving the decline, there is no guarantee it continues. 📉 More here

Police Do Matter

Recorded live in front of 3,000 attendees at Axon Week in Nashville, Mike and Rick Smith sit down with Harvard cognitive psychologist Dr. Steven Pinker — author of The Better Angels of Our Nature — for a conversation that makes the case policing rarely gets to hear made at this level: violence has been declining for centuries, and law enforcement has played a central role in making it happen. Pinker traces the arc from medieval Europe, where disputes were settled by force, to the modern state’s monopoly on legitimate violence — and explains why homicide rates in major U.S. cities just hit historic lows, even as academia resists giving police the credit. He also unpacks “common knowledge” — the moment everyone knows that everyone else knows — and how body cameras and bystander video have fundamentally transformed policing by turning private moments into public accountability. 🎙️Apple Podcasts 🎙️ Spotify

Drugged Driving Data Gap

Federal efforts to track drug-impaired driving deaths have stalled amid staffing cuts and funding delays, leaving law enforcement without reliable national data on a growing public safety threat, according to the Washington Post. Unlike alcohol, drugs are not systematically tracked in fatal crash data — despite evidence that they play a significant role. In Mesa County, Colorado, nearly half of all traffic fatalities over an eight-year period involved a driver impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both. NHTSA’s impaired driving division has dropped from five employees to just two following federal workforce cuts, and over $475 million in crash data modernization funding expired largely unused. As more than 40 states legalize or decriminalize cannabis and other substances, researchers warn the data gap directly limits enforcement strategy: “If you want to solve a problem, you need to understand the problem.” 🔗 More here

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Violent crime continued its downward trend in the first quarter of 2026 across 67 major U.S. cities, according to preliminary data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association. Compared to the same period in 2025, homicides fell 17.7%, robberies dropped 20.4%, rape decreased 7.2%, and aggravated assault declined 4.8%. Notable declines include Houston homicides down from 77 to 49, Philadelphia homicides down from 50 to 23, Washington D.C. homicides down from 34 to 12, and Memphis robberies cut nearly in half. Oakland showed significant improvement with homicides dropping from 86 to 67 and robberies falling from 2,922 to 1,674. A handful of cities bucked the trend — Charlotte homicides rose from 16 to 22, and New Orleans aggravated assaults jumped from 252 to 372. Canadian cities also saw broad declines, with homicides down 22.4% and robberies down 16.4% across nine responding agencies. 📉 MCCA report here

Crime Fears Versus Data

Americans’ perceptions of crime frequently diverge from actual crime trends, with roughly 69% of survey respondents on average saying crime was higher than the year before from 2005 to 2024 — despite overall crime rates falling in most of those years — according to a new report from the Council on Criminal Justice analyzed by Stateline. Fear of crime has remained remarkably stable over decades, with 35% of Americans in 2024 saying they were afraid to walk alone at night — the same percentage as in 1968. The report found that personal victimization and property crime experiences were stronger predictors of fear than actual violent crime rates, and that economic optimism was closely tied to reduced crime concern. Political ideology showed a more limited effect than expected, with economic conditions proving a stronger driver of crime perception than party affiliation. 🔗 More here

Chief Rejects Chase Restrictions

Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman has declined to implement pursuit policy changes recommended by the city’s Fire and Police Commission, which sought to prohibit officers from chasing suspects for reckless driving observed after a traffic stop and to end pursuits that increase danger to the public, according to WISN 12. Norman said the department is not inclined to revise its current policy, citing ongoing evaluation that incorporates national best practices, community feedback, and review of comparable cities. The recommendations came after a deadly 2025 in which nine people were killed in police chases — four in pursuits that began as reckless driving stops. The Milwaukee Common Council could force the changes if requested by the commission. 🚓 More here

Mayor Backs Chief’s Second Term

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced Thursday he is nominating Police Chief Brian O’Hara for a second term, citing crime reductions, increased officer recruitment, and leadership through multiple crises — but the nomination faces an uncertain path through a divided city council, according to MPR News. O’Hara took the job in 2022 amid significant departmental turmoil following the murder of George Floyd, a depleted force of roughly 500 officer resignations, and low public trust. Frey argued that removing O’Hara now would “unravel” progress made, warning that a failed confirmation could mean more than a year of uncertainty and lost momentum. Some council members have raised concerns about the department going more than $19 million over budget in 2025, largely driven by overtime costs. O’Hara said he is “fully committed to continuing to do this work” and wants to keep growing the department if confirmed. 🔗 More here

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Fixation on Crime Stats

An internal affairs investigation into crime data manipulation at the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department found no evidence that former Chief Pamela Smith directly ordered crime reports to be altered, but concluded that her leadership style significantly contributed to a culture in which officers felt compelled to misclassify crimes, according to NBC4 Washington. Investigators found that Smith’s “fixation on crime stats” and treatment of subordinates — including public humiliations and retaliatory transfers — created conditions where officers knowingly engaged in improper data practices. Thirteen top MPD officials have been placed on leave and served with termination papers. Smith stepped down in December and denied any wrongdoing in her farewell address. 📈 More here

Finalists for Honolulu Chief

The Honolulu Police Commission has named three finalists to lead the Honolulu Police Department: Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert, Glynn County (Georgia) Police Chief Scott Ebner, and retired San Francisco Assistant Chief David Lazar, according to Honolulu Civil Beat. The department has been without a permanent chief since Joe Logan retired under pressure last June. Lambert, a 21-year HPD veteran, is seeking to return to the department due to a retirement benefit issue tied to his current state role. Ebner is a former New Jersey State Police lieutenant colonel who has been appointed to lead departments across the country. Lazar served with the San Francisco Police Department for more than three decades. A public forum is scheduled for May 14 and the commission will make its final selection May 20. 🌺 More here

Police Week 2026 Begins

Alien Smuggling Operation

A 24-year-old Mexican national living illegally in Kansas City pleaded guilty to leading an alien smuggling organization that moved hundreds of migrants from Mexico, Central America, and South America into the United States through the Canadian border, according to the National Post. Edgar Sanchez-Solis pleaded guilty to conspiracy and five counts of alien smuggling for financial gain and faces between five and 15 years in prison at his September sentencing. Court documents show the operation charged migrants thousands of dollars each and repeatedly endangered the public through high-speed chases with law enforcement. Three co-defendants from Kansas, Georgia, and Ohio were also charged in the case. 🔗 More here

Banning Armed Police Robots

A New York City council member has introduced legislation dubbed the “Asimov Act” that would prohibit the NYPD from deploying armed robots, according to USA Today. The bill comes as law enforcement agencies across the country increasingly experiment with robotic technology — including a 400-pound autonomous robot already operating in New York’s transit system. Police departments have long used robots for bomb disposal and surveillance, with newer models capable of autonomous patrol, real-time data collection, and information relay. The legislation aims to establish clear boundaries on the use of such technology before it advances further, with the council member framing it as a proactive step to ensure public safety keeps pace with innovation. 🤖 More here

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A detailed investigation reveals that OpenAI’s ChatGPT provided operational guidance to at least two mass shooting suspects — including the Florida State University shooter who asked how many victims it takes to make national news and received a specific answer — while the company repeatedly chose not to alert law enforcement despite internal red flags, according to the Wall Street Journal. In the Canada case, OpenAI’s own monitoring system flagged shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar’s conversations as troubling months before she killed eight people in British Columbia, but leaders decided not to contact authorities. Internal debate at OpenAI has centered on privacy versus public safety, with legal staff arguing for greater user privacy while investigations staff pushed for more frequent law enforcement referrals — currently just 15 to 30 users per year. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has since apologized to the Tumbler Ridge community and said the company has broadened its referral criteria. Independent testing found that of 10 major chatbots, only Anthropic’s Claude and Snap’s chatbot reliably refused requests related to violent attack planning. 🔗 More here

Doral Chief Eyed for Miami

Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez is a leading contender to replace retiring Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales, who is set to leave in October, according to the Miami Herald. Lopez, 45, brings more than 28 years of law enforcement experience, including nine years as chief across two departments — most notably leading the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department in the aftermath of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting. He has led the Doral Police Department since 2023, overseeing 155 sworn officers and a budget of over $41 million. Miami District 4 Commissioner Ralph Rosado publicly endorsed Lopez, saying his appointment would allow the city to “turn the page on years of costly lawsuits” and allegations of discrimination within the department. 🔗 More here

Chief Focuses on Wellness, Crime

Five months into her tenure, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson is prioritizing officer wellness, staffing, and community trust while pointing to early crime reductions, according to WCNC. Overall crime is down 23% and violent crime down 18% so far this year, with a 69% drop in crime on the city’s Blue Line light rail — though homicides are up, driven largely by domestic and relationship-based incidents. The department currently has more than 280 sworn vacancies, and Patterson said expanding mental health resources for officers remains a top priority, citing the cumulative toll of trauma on those responding to calls back to back. She also addressed street takeovers, reporting more than 100 arrests, 62 vehicle seizures, and 61 firearms recovered so far, and called for the broader criminal justice system — prosecutors, judges, and courts — to grow in step with the police department. 🔗 More here

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DOJ Rolls Back Gun Regulations

The Justice Department announced more than 30 changes to federal gun regulations Wednesday, including a proposed repeal of a 2024 Biden administration rule that required background checks on firearms sales at gun shows and other venues outside traditional stores, according to NBC News. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche called it the most comprehensive regulatory reform package in ATF history, saying the changes align with Supreme Court precedent and reduce burdens on lawful gun owners. The announcement came the same day the Senate confirmed Robert Cekada — a 20-year ATF veteran — as the agency’s director, only the third confirmed director since the position became Senate-confirmable in 2006. Gun control groups criticized the timing, noting the changes came four days after the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. 🔗 More here

Anti-Government Violence

Domestic attacks and plots against the U.S. government reached their highest levels since at least 1994 last year, with a new shift: for the first time in 20 years, extreme-left attacks outnumbered extreme-right attacks, according to the Wall Street Journal. Of the 20 attacks and plots recorded in 2025, 10 were categorized as extreme-left and eight as extreme-right, with half the left-leaning incidents targeting immigration officers or facilities in response to the Trump administration’s enforcement crackdown. Firearms are increasingly the weapon of choice, though last year’s most common weapon was the Molotov cocktail, appearing in at least seven incidents. Three people were killed in extreme-right attacks last year and one in an extreme-left attack. The data comes as Saturday’s shooting attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has renewed focus on the rising threat environment facing government officials. 🔗 More here

Operation Red Card

Federal and local law enforcement agencies across North Texas have launched Operation Red Card, a multi-agency initiative targeting violent criminals ahead of the FIFA World Cup, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Since the operation began March 14, 132 individuals have been charged with human and drug trafficking, kidnapping, weapons offenses, and immigration violations, with more than 115 kilos of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl seized along with 81 firearms. The operation involves the DOJ, FBI, DEA, ATF, HSI, and multiple local police departments. Officials also warned that anyone flying drones over World Cup venues could face federal charges, with Arlington deploying technology to track and intercept unauthorized drones near the stadium during the nine matches scheduled there. 🔗 More here

From Kill Pen to Catching Criminals

Kelly, the NYPD mounted horse whose viral body-cam footage showed him helping chase down a purse snatcher on Manhattan's Upper West Side, is a rescued standardbred racehorse who was saved from slaughter in 2020, according to CBS New York. The Standardbred Retirement Foundation, a New Jersey nonprofit that rescues 300 to 800 racehorses annually, rehabbed Kelly before the NYPD Mounted Unit discovered him six months later — and he's been with the department ever since. Foundation director Judith Bokman said she recognized Kelly immediately in the viral footage. For every horse like Kelly who gets a second chance, she noted, countless others remain in kill pens waiting to be saved. 🐴 More here

108 Officers Shot in 2026 So Far

The National Fraternal Order of Police reports that 108 officers have been shot in the line of duty through April 30, 2026 — down 1% from the same period in 2025 and down 20% from 2024, according to the Fraternal Order of Police. Of those, 14 were killed, up 16% from 2025 but down 30% from 2024. Particularly concerning is the ambush trend — 21 ambush-style attacks have occurred so far this year, resulting in 26 officers shot and 5 killed. 📈 Report here

Court Eyes Geofence Warrants

The U.S. Supreme Court appeared inclined Monday to allow police use of geofence warrants — which collect location data from cellphones near a crime scene during a specific time window — in a case stemming from a 2019 Virginia bank robbery, according to the Associated Press. The justices seemed skeptical of arguments that the warrants are too broad to comply with the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition on unreasonable searches, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor noting the warrant in question “identifies a place, a crime, a timeframe.” The court appeared eager to avoid a sweeping ruling, possibly limiting geofence warrants by time and geography rather than banning or fully endorsing them. The case highlights a split between federal appeals courts — one upholding geofence warrants, another declaring them categorically unconstitutional. ⚖️ More here

Gun Deaths by The Numbers

Around 44,000 people died from gun-related injuries in the United States in 2024 — the fifth-highest annual total on record — though the number fell for the third consecutive year, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of CDC data. The breakdown reveals two diverging trends: gun homicides have dropped 27% since a record high in 2021, falling to 15,364 in 2024, while gun suicides have risen to an all-time high of 27,593 — accounting for 62% of all gun deaths. Handguns were involved in 53% of gun murders, while rifles accounted for just 3%. Active shooter incidents also declined sharply, from 61 in 2021 to 24 in 2024. State-by-state variation is dramatic, with Mississippi recording the highest gun death rate at 28 per 100,000 people and Hawaii the lowest at 3.7 per 100,000. 🔗 Full report

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A Chicago police officer was killed and another critically injured Saturday after a suspect in custody opened fire on officers at a North Side hospital, according to WGN-TV. The suspect — initially brought in for medical treatment in connection with a robbery — passed a weapons screening upon arrival but later obtained a gun and shot both officers before fleeing the scene. The officer who died was a 38-year-old, 10-year CPD veteran; the injured officer is a 57-year-old with more than 20 years on the force. The suspect was taken into custody shortly after and a weapon was recovered. No hospital staff or patients were injured. Superintendent Larry Snelling said: “Every day that an officer gets up and puts his or her uniform on, they don’t really know if they’re ever going to return home.” 💙🖤 More here

Police Tackled Gunman

A gunman was confronted and tackled by law enforcement near a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday evening before reaching the ballroom where President Trump and hundreds of journalists and officials had gathered, according to the New York Times. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, was carrying a shotgun, handgun, and knives, and fired at least once before being subdued. A Secret Service officer was shot in his protective vest and was in good condition. Allen, who had been staying at the hotel as a guest, was taken into custody without being shot and transported to a hospital for evaluation. Washington’s interim police chief described him as a lone actor, and charges include using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer. 🔗 More here

Broken Windows Still Works

Former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton argues in The Telegraph that the Broken Windows policing strategy — addressing low-level disorder alongside serious crime — remains the most effective approach to reducing crime, rooted in the principles of Sir Robert Peel, the father of modern policing. Bratton credits the approach with driving a 46% crime reduction in New York City between 1990 and 1996, and argues that the post-2020 trend of decriminalizing quality-of-life offenses in many American cities directly contributed to the surge in violent crime that followed. He warns that any police strategy that ignores disorder while focusing only on serious crime is “doomed to failure,” and that restoring public trust requires addressing what people experience in their neighborhoods every day — not just what crime statistics reflect. 🪟 More here

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Cops Still Beat Alternatives

A University of Pennsylvania criminologist argues in Vital City that civilian alternative response programs are “badly oversold” as replacements for police in social service roles, and that cities should think carefully before expanding them. Professor Jerry Ratcliffe points out that more than 60% of police calls involve crime, quality-of-life issues, or situations with the potential for either — leaving far less room for diversion than advocates claim. He cites Eugene, Oregon’s widely praised CAHOOTS program, which was shut down in 2025, and notes that claimed diversion rates of up to 23% are disputed, with more realistic estimates in the 3-8% range. A year-long Philadelphia study found that combined police-social work teams outperformed police-only teams in connecting vulnerable people to services, but that institutional failures — overcrowded shelters, limited treatment capacity — undermined both models equally. Ratcliffe concludes that the case for alternative response as a scalable, cost-effective replacement for police “is grounded in weak analysis,” and that improving police training and recruitment may yield greater returns than building costly parallel systems from scratch. 🔗 More here

New: Colonel Matthew Birmingham

Chemical Drones Stolen

Fifteen large agricultural drones capable of spraying up to 40 gallons of liquid chemicals over a 15-acre area in seven minutes were stolen from a New Jersey shipping company in late March by a suspect using a fraudulent bill of lading and a fake confirmation email, according to the New York Post. The FBI is investigating and has raised concerns that the drones — valued at roughly $870,000 total — could be weaponized as delivery platforms for chemical or biological agents. A retired FBI agent called it a “potential nightmare scenario,” noting the drones are industrial sprayers, not hobby aircraft, and are designed to carry and disperse significant amounts of liquid quickly and with precision. The FBI declined to comment on any investigation. 🔗 More here

ChatGPT Probed in Shooting

Florida’s attorney general has opened a criminal investigation into OpenAI and ChatGPT after prosecutors reviewed messages between the chatbot and the man accused of killing two people at Florida State University last year, according to the New York Times. The messages show the suspect asking ChatGPT about a gun’s power at short range, ammunition, how the country would react to a shooting at Florida State, and when the student union was busiest — all on the day of the attack. Attorney General James Uthmeier said if a person had been on the other end of those exchanges, “we would be charging them with murder,” and his office plans to subpoena OpenAI for internal records and policies on handling users who may pose a threat. OpenAI denied responsibility, stating the chatbot provided factual responses to questions available across public internet sources and did not encourage harmful activity. 🔗 More here

Chief Kathy Lester to Retire

Chief Fights Back After Firing

Fired Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge has released a recording of her pre-disciplinary hearing, directly contradicting the city’s stated reasons for her termination, according to WKRC. At the center of the dispute is the city’s 2025 Summer Safety Plan, which Theetge says she opposed because crime data didn’t support it and the department lacked the staffing — noting officers worked 23,000 hours above their normal schedules in August alone. On the issue of Fountain Square patrols, Theetge says details were filled before City Manager Sheryl Long’s urgent texts, while Long’s termination letter says she had to “beg” for coverage. Theetge also alleges Mayor Aftab Pureval told Long “it’s me or you, one of us gotta go” following a Fountain Square shooting. Her attorney said lawsuits will be filed in both state and federal court next week. 🔗 More here

Dallas Chief Marks Year One

Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux marked his first year on the job pointing to a drop in violent crime, a decade-high staffing level, and the removal of more than 350 violent offenders from the streets through federal partnerships, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. The department hired 407 new officers over the past 12 months and recorded 43 fewer murders than the prior year. Comeaux also created a Homeless Outreach Team to clear encampments and connect individuals with resources. He reaffirmed his decision not to partner with ICE under the 287(g) program, stating the department’s focus is on serving Dallas residents. Looking ahead, priorities include improving response times, continued recruitment, and preparing for the FIFA World Cup. 🔗 More here

Oakland Chief Lands in Fremont

Six weeks into his new role, Fremont Police Chief Floyd Mitchell is settling in after his brief and unexpected departure from the Oakland Police Department, where he resigned after 18 months, according to KTVU Fox 2. Mitchell pointed to a 25% crime reduction during his Oakland tenure, while a criminal justice professor suggested he left because he wasn’t able to do the job he envisioned. In Fremont, Mitchell is focused on retail theft, reckless driving, and a local unhoused population estimated at 800 people, and has already begun expanding the traffic enforcement unit. 🔗 More here

Portland Police Face $17M in Cuts

Portland Police Chief Bob Day warned Thursday that proposed budget cuts of more than $17 million will reduce services and increase response times for lower-priority calls, as the city seeks to close a projected $160 million budget shortfall, according to KGW. The cuts include an 80% reduction to the Public Safety Support Specialist program — which was projected to handle 25,000 calls this year for stolen vehicles, missing persons, and minor collisions — eliminating 34 full-time positions. Additional reductions include a 35% cut to training and supplies, 20% to technology and fleet, and cuts to victim services and precinct administrative staff. Day said the department is already operating lean: “Every cut we make is a cut to the bone.” The city council must adopt a final budget by June 17. More here

Neighbors Cheer Arrest

Palantir Exposes Infractions

The London Metropolitan Police have launched investigations into hundreds of officers after deploying Palantir’s AI software to identify misconduct and criminal behavior within the force, according to The Guardian. In just one week of surveillance using existing internal data, the tool uncovered wrongdoing ranging from work-from-home violations to corruption and criminal offenses — resulting in the arrest of three officers on charges including fraud, sexual assault, and abuse of authority. Among the findings: 98 officers assessed for shift-roster manipulation for personal gain, 500 more receiving prevention notices for the same offense, 42 senior officers investigated for falsely claiming office attendance, and 12 officers facing gross misconduct charges for failing to disclose Freemasonry membership. Met Commissioner Mark Rowley said the technology allows the force to “identify risk earlier, act faster and be fairer and more consistent.” 🔗 More here

Wearable Tech for Road Workers

Researchers at Morgan State University in Maryland are testing a wearable warning system designed to alert highway construction workers to approaching vehicles before they become a danger, according to Government Technology. The system uses lidar sensors and a predictive algorithm to deliver simultaneous alerts through a flashing beacon, a haptic wrist buzz, and a siren — providing redundancy to ensure workers are warned regardless of what they are doing. During a recent six-day test, more than 50,800 vehicles passed through the work zone, with 288 traveling 45 mph or faster. The technology comes as work zone fatalities remain a persistent problem — Maryland lost nine highway workers last year, Virginia logged 17 work zone fatalities, and Oregon recorded a five-year high in work zone crashes in 2024. ⚠️ More here

Deputy Killed in Shootout

A LeFlore County (OK) deputy was killed and a Wister police chief was injured last Sunday after officers responding to a welfare check were immediately fired upon by a suspect who then barricaded himself inside a home, according to KOKH. Deputy Thomas “Walker” LeMay was pronounced dead at the scene, while Wister Police Chief William “Andy” Thompson was transported to a local hospital. The suspect, 36-year-old Edgar Lara, opened fire as soon as officers arrived. The LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office described LeMay as “a true servant of the people, a loving son, brother, and father to his most precious baby girl.” 💙🖤 More here

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A Tulare County Sheriff’s Office detective was shot and killed Thursday morning while serving an eviction notice at a home in Porterville, California, in what the sheriff described as a deliberate ambush, according to ABC30. Detective Randy Hoppert, who joined the department in 2020 after serving in the U.S. Navy, was struck by gunfire from the suspect — 60-year-old David Morales — who had barricaded himself inside the home armed with a high-powered rifle. Hoppert leaves behind a wife who is four months pregnant. The suspect, who had no prior criminal record, was later killed when he emerged from the home armed and in tactical gear and opened fire on a Kern County SWAT armored vehicle. It is the first line-of-duty death for the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office in nearly 20 years. 💙🖤 More here

Chief Breaks Her Silence

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge spoke publicly for the first time Friday since being placed on paid administrative leave in October, following a pre-disciplinary hearing before the city manager, according to WCPO 9. The hearing came after the city released a nine-page report concluding she had “not been an effective leader,” citing an “old school approach,” lack of transparency, a culture of retaliation, and difficulty working with city leadership. Theetge and her attorneys pushed back forcefully, calling the process “hasty and unlawful” and the report speculative and politically motivated. Her attorney said the city must now decide whether to reinstate her or remove her, warning that removal would trigger a legal fight, and adding that no financial settlement could restore the damage done to her reputation. Theetge said simply: “We didn’t start this fight, but by God we’re going to finish it.” 🔗 More here

Brown Names New Chief

Brown University has appointed Colonel Hugh T. Clements Jr. as permanent police chief and vice president for public safety, following a December campus shooting that left two students dead and prompted a federal investigation into the university’s security failures, according to the New York Times. Clements, who served as Providence police chief for 12 years before directing the Justice Department’s COPS Office, had been serving in an interim role since days after the attack. The university’s previous chief, Rodney Chatman, whose tenure was described as contentious even before the shooting, departed this week. The U.S. Department of Education had cited concerns about Brown’s surveillance systems and emergency alert response, and the university has since added cameras and panic buttons across campus while two commissioned safety reviews remain ongoing. 🔗 More here

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St. Louis Sues Over Takeover

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging a state law that transferred control of the city’s police department from the mayor’s office to a board with a majority of governor-appointed members, according to St. Louis Public Radio. The suit argues the law’s requirement that the city spend a set percentage of general revenue on policing — without providing additional state funding — constitutes an unconstitutional unfunded mandate. The city’s proposed police budget of $220 million falls short of the board’s certified expenses of $250 million, a gap that includes 7% raises negotiated with the police union. The lawsuit is the third legal challenge to the state takeover, with two others already pending May hearings. 🔗 More here

Highway Safety Imperiled

World Cup Cyber Threats

Federal, state, and local agencies are preparing for a wide range of cyberattacks targeting this summer’s FIFA World Cup, with concerns ranging from disrupted broadcast signals and ticketing systems to attacks on transit networks and water treatment plants, according to Politico. CISA has conducted more than 1,000 security engagements specifically for the tournament since early 2025 and has completed physical and cybersecurity assessments of nearly all stadiums and team base camps. Top threats include Iran- and Russia-linked hackers, criminal ransomware groups, and unauthorized drone activity. Complicating preparations is the ongoing DHS shutdown — 40% of CISA’s bomb prevention staff are furloughed, FEMA’s $625 million in security grants to host cities has been slowed, and hundreds of TSA officers have quit. New York’s chief cyber officer captured the scale of the challenge: “It’s like there’s multiple Super Bowls happening over a six-week period.” ⚽️ More here

Drones Help Bust Drug Ring

A Maryland sheriff’s office used drone surveillance to help dismantle a cocaine trafficking ring tied to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, seizing more than 93 pounds of cocaine valued at over $4 million and 11 firearms across Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, according to the Washington Post. Drone footage of a truck stop drug exchange provided key court evidence, capturing two Home Depot boxes containing 53 pounds of cocaine being transferred between suspects. The investigation, which began in late 2024, involved monitoring 19 cellphones and has resulted in charges against 13 suspects. The case highlights the rapid expansion of police drone use — more than 1,000 agencies have received FAA approval for drone programs since a streamlined process took effect in May 2025, down from an 11-month approval wait to just one week. 🔗 More here

AI Pranks Draw Charges

Law enforcement in Florida is warning of a growing trend of AI-generated prank videos being used to deceive both the public and police, according to WKMG Orlando. A man in Seminole County was arrested on felony charges — including fabricating evidence — after showing a deputy an AI-generated video falsely claiming someone had broken into the deputy’s patrol car. The same suspect had previously approached shoppers in West Palm Beach with fabricated videos, including one appearing to show a customer’s husband with another woman. Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma called the misuse of AI deepfakes “a growing concern,” warning that fabricated videos targeting first responders can damage reputations, create unnecessary tensions, and raise real safety risks. 🔗 More here

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FBI Director Kash Patel issued a blunt warning to anyone who attacks law enforcement, vowing that those who “touch a cop” will be tracked down and arrested, according to Fox News. Speaking on a radio program Saturday, Patel emphasized that the FBI will back law enforcement partners and that anyone who assaults or interferes with officers in the lawful execution of their duties will “face the full force of law enforcement.” The comments come as the Department of Homeland Security reports that violence against federal agents has spiked to a record high since the start of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown. 🔗 More here

Local-Federal Common Ground

Federal, state, and local law enforcement leaders — along with prosecutors and labor organizations — convened to find practical agreement on intergovernmental immigration enforcement cooperation, according to the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Four core principles emerged: consistent two-way communication and early notification before federal operations begin; coordinated tactics to protect both officer and community safety; focusing enforcement on violent criminals and national security threats rather than broad population sweeps; and reducing politically charged rhetoric from all sides that undermines trust and collaboration. Participants agreed that community trust is an operational requirement that directly impacts crime reporting, officer safety, and law enforcement effectiveness at every level. 📝 Core Principles

Who’s Levying Complaints

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara now has 30 complaints filed against him, which is 15 times the number the last chief of police had on file. O’Hara says he thinks most of the recent heat he faces is related to the ICE surge in Minnesota.

Chief to Retire After Shooting

The Howard County, Maryland police chief announced his retirement amid scrutiny following the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old autistic man, according to WMAR-2 News. Alex LaMorie died on March 1 after calling 911 on himself for a wellness check and approaching officers with a knife; body camera footage shows an officer pleading with him before three officers opened fire. Chief Gregory Der had already notified County Executive Calvin Ball of his planned June 1 retirement before the public outcry began. In response to the incident, the county purchased 200 tasers — which were not standard issue at the time of the shooting — and the state Attorney General’s office is investigating whether criminal charges are warranted. 🔗 More here

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Camera Doesn’t Lie

Two contrasting local cases illustrate the value of body cameras, according to CNHI. In Hampstead, New Hampshire, body camera footage corroborated officers’ accounts in a 2024 shooting and validated their use of force. In North Andover, Massachusetts, the absence of cameras in a shooting involving two officers resulted in a “he said, she said” trial that ended in acquittal — with the judge noting prosecutors may have met their burden of proof had cameras been present. Chiefs who have adopted the technology report that cameras reduce complaints against officers, routinely exonerate them from false accusations, and build community trust. As one chief put it simply: “The camera doesn’t lie.” 📸 More here

Chief Addresses Court Fears

Nashville Police Chief John Drake fielded community concerns about whether Hispanic families can safely access Davidson County courthouses following reports of ICE arrests at courthouses in neighboring counties.

Disabling License Plate Readers

Law enforcement agencies across Washington state, including Seattle and Kent, have temporarily disabled mobile automated license plate readers to comply with a new state law that took effect March 30, according to KUOW. The law sets a 21-day data retention limit and prohibits capturing plate data near sensitive locations including immigration offices, schools, courts, places of worship, and food banks. Agencies are working with vendors Axon and Flock to develop geofencing solutions, but in the meantime officers have reverted to manually running plates — the same results, significantly slower. While chiefs acknowledge the new privacy protections have merit, particularly for domestic violence victims, some warn the 21-day retention limit could jeopardize property crime investigations where detectives may not identify a suspect vehicle until weeks after the incident. 🔗 More here

Mile High ALPR Swap

Denver moved from Flock to Axon for license plate recognition cameras after concerns that Flock had been sharing Denver data with other cities and immigration enforcement agencies, according to Denver7. Under the new $150,000 Axon contract, data is stored for 21 days, access is restricted exclusively to Denver police investigating active criminal cases, and no other law enforcement agency — including federal — can access the system. Axon does not maintain a national network, does not sell customer data, and confirmed its cameras capture vehicle and plate information only — not facial recognition or occupant images. 🔗 More here

More Than Just Enforcing Laws

For more than 25 years, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Anti-Defamation League have led police officers and recruits through a day-long training called Law Enforcement and Society, which uses photographs of German police during the Holocaust to prompt discussions about the role of law enforcement in a democratic society, according to the Police Executive Research Forum. The program was created by former Washington D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey after a museum visit led him to realize that German police — who took oaths similar to his own — played an active role in the Holocaust. “Through history we learn,” Ramsey told PERF. “We can learn from the Holocaust and help police understand that their role is about more than just enforcing laws.” The training is now part of recruit programs for agencies including the U.S. Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police Department, and Tampa Police Department, which has put every new officer through the curriculum since 2013. ✡️ PERF Report

Dropping This Week

This week's guest is Colonel Matthew Birmingham of the Vermont State Police — responsible for policing 200 of the state's 250 cities. Colonel Birmingham talks leadership, northern border enforcement, rural law enforcement, and officer mental health in a conversation you won't want to miss.

Oakland Launches Gun Blitz

Oakland police announced a 60-day enforcement operation in partnership with the ATF, FBI, and DEA targeting illegal gun sales and firearm-related crimes, according to KTVU Fox 2. The operation will include undercover operations, directed patrols, search warrants, and intelligence-led investigations, with Assistant Chief Casey Johnson warning that those found with illegal firearms could face federal charges. The announcement comes as city leaders report a 29% drop in violent crime in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, including double-digit declines in homicides, robberies, and aggravated assaults. 🔗 More here

Mass Officer Charges

More than a dozen Massachusetts police officers have been charged with felonies in the first three months of 2026, nearly double the pace of recent years, according to MassLive. State oversight data show 20 current and former officers had their certifications suspended in the first quarter. Cases include four state police members facing manslaughter charges in the death of a recruit, a separate alleged DUI cover-up within the state police, and a Plymouth officer accused of sexually abusing her adopted son. Experts disagree on the cause — some point to weak leadership and inadequate hiring standards, while others say the prosecutions reflect an unwillingness among officers to cover for colleagues. A retired State Police major said: “The system is in failure mode.” 🔗 More here

Bomb Proofing Horses

The Atlanta Police Department is training its mounted patrol unit for crowd control and security during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will bring eight matches to the city including a semifinal, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. Officers are “bomb-proofing” horses — desensitizing them to loud noises, large crowds, flags, and fireworks — while also practicing crowd control techniques with partner agencies. Atlanta expects roughly two dozen horses on hand, with additional riders coming from the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, Savannah, and Memphis. Officers say the elevated vantage point on horseback is a significant tactical advantage in congested areas, and that the unit will also serve as community ambassadors to help fans navigate the city. 🐴 More here

Troopers Rescue Cub

New Jersey State Police troopers responded to an unusual call April 1 after a lone bear cub was spotted in a roadside ditch along I-78 in Union Township, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. Troopers safely secured the cub, transported it to the barracks, and released it to the state Department of Environmental Protection for proper care. A photo of a trooper cradling the tiny cub quickly won over social media, with police calling it a “paw-sitive” outcome. 🐻 More here

Students Build AI Tools

Three high school students in Columbia, Missouri won the state AI championship for developing artificial intelligence tools designed to assist local police, according to KOMU 8. The trio built a 911 call analyzer to identify crime trends, a video analysis tool, and a police reporting assistant — all developed from scratch in partnership with the Columbia and University of Missouri police departments. The students emphasized that their AI is designed to assist officers, not replace human judgment, with one noting the technology is “never making the last decision.” The tools are not yet in use by the department due to cybersecurity concerns around sensitive law enforcement data, but the students are now advancing to regional competition 💻 More here

Live Facial Recognition

North Yorkshire Police in the UK has announced plans to begin using live facial recognition cameras in intelligence-led locations to identify high-risk offenders and protect vulnerable people, according to the BBC. The technology scans faces in real time, comparing them against a watchlist of persons of interest, with non-matching images deleted immediately and the watchlist itself deleted at the end of each deployment. Several other UK forces are already using the technology. 🔗 More here

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A new white paper from the Violence Reduction Center argues that social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube are playing an increasingly significant role in driving shootings in underserved Black and Latino communities — a dynamic well known to law enforcement and violence prevention workers but rarely studied or reported on, according to The Guardian. Researcher Thomas Abt found that online disputes, taunts, and music videos trading barbs between rivals are escalating into real-world violence, compounded by algorithms that reward violent content with attention that can be monetized. Abt and his co-authors are calling for social media companies to come to the table and share how their algorithms work, invest in community-led digital monitoring, and develop ethical early warning systems — noting that every major platform was invited to participate in their research symposium but none sent a formal representative.📱More here

Camden’s Crime Turnaround

Once among the most dangerous cities in America with 67 homicides in 2012, Camden, New Jersey achieved its first homicide-free summer in 50 years in 2025 — an 82% reduction in murders over 13 years — according to the New York Times. The turnaround began in 2013 when the city dissolved its troubled police department and replaced it with a new county force built around community policing, extensive surveillance technology, and targeted dismantling of drug trafficking organizations. Community-based violence interruption programs, workforce development initiatives for youth, and the rehabilitation of more than 1,000 vacant properties complemented the policing changes. Residents and officials widely describe the progress as transformational, while acknowledging that poverty persists and that continued investment is needed to sustain the gains. 📉 More here

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Focused Deterrence

Salt Lake City police and prosecutors have launched a focused deterrence strategy targeting the 114 individuals identified through three years of crime data as most likely to be involved in future violence, according to Utah News Dispatch. Those on the list received letters in February warning of an accelerated law enforcement response to any new offenses, while also being offered an off-ramp through mental health and substance abuse treatment programs. The program, called the Targeted Offender Partnership Strategy, designates two prosecutors specifically to pursue swift action against any list member on supervised release who picks up new charges — cutting what previously could take weeks down to immediate response. A criminology professor from the University of Texas at San Antonio, who helped develop similar programs in Dallas and Boston, assisted in building the scoring system used to identify the group. 🔗 More here

Oakland Gains, Staffing Crisis

Oakland recorded its lowest homicide count since the late 1960s in 2025 — 56 murders — following back-to-back years of significant reductions driven by the Ceasefire strategy, surveillance technology, and federal law enforcement partnerships, according to The Oaklandside. Interim Police Chief James Beere, who has applied for the permanent position, credited community cooperation and interagency collaboration for the gains, but acknowledged the department is operating with just 500 of an authorized 678 officers and would ideally need 1,200 to sustain long-term crime reduction. 🔗 More here

Bomb Suspect Fled to China

A Florida man accused of planting an explosive device outside MacDill Air Force Base has fled to China, while his sister is now in custody after both were charged in connection with the incident, federal officials announced.

Jan. 6 Intelligence Failure

Former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund testified before a House subcommittee that the January 6th Capitol attack was an “intelligence failure” that could have been prevented. Sund told lawmakers that significant intelligence existed ahead of the attack indicating individuals were plotting to storm the Capitol, target lawmakers, and discussing shooting officers — but no intelligence agency sounded the alarm. He drew a direct comparison to the intelligence failures preceding the September 11th attacks, warning that if the underlying issues are not identified and corrected, the country risks repeating history. Sund also called on lawmakers to grant the Capitol Police chief greater authority to request assistance from federal law enforcement agencies without having to navigate bureaucratic barriers. 🔗 More here

FirstNet Reauthorization Advances

A House committee voted 51-0 to advance legislation reauthorizing FirstNet — the federally supported communications network built for first responders following communication failures on September 11th — through fiscal 2037, according to CQ Roll Call. The bill includes amendments aimed at balancing oversight by the Commerce Department with FirstNet’s ability to deploy emergency resources and manage its own budget without bureaucratic delays. The reauthorization comes amid scrutiny of the AT&T-run network, including inspector general reports finding insufficient coverage during the 2023 Maui wildfires and attempts by senior officials to interfere with audits. The Fraternal Order of Police opposed the bill, arguing the changes could marginalize frontline input and delay critical decisions. The committee also unanimously advanced the Mystic Alerts Act, which would require wireless emergency alerts to be sent via satellite — named for the Texas summer camp where more than two dozen people died in flooding last summer when traditional networks were unavailable. 📡 More here

Drones: America’s Blind Spot

In an editorial, the Washington Post Editorial Board warns that a series of sophisticated drone incursions over Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana — a critical hub of America’s nuclear bomber fleet — exposes a serious gap in U.S. homeland defense. The drones, which reportedly delayed bombers headed to strike targets in Iran, were likely custom-built and required advanced signals expertise. The board draws on examples from Ukraine and NATO exercises to argue that drone warfare has fundamentally changed the battlefield, noting that Russia is now sharing upgraded Iranian drone designs, satellite imagery, and targeting data to help Iran strike American personnel and bases. The editorial concludes that the U.S. must urgently prioritize drone defense and counter-drone innovation. 🔗 More here

Briefing Room Podcasts

Missed a podcast? All episodes can be found on 🎙️ www.policebriefing.com

• Sheriff Dennis Lemma, Seminole County (FL) Sheriff’s Office — Service Over Politics: Being a Superhero and Building Safer Communities

• Sheriff Mike Chapman, Loudoun County (VA) Sheriff’s Office — From Cocaine Cowboys to County Sheriff

• Chief Stephen Redfearn, Boulder (CO) Police Department — From Dispatcher to Chief: Leading Through the Unthinkable

• Chief Doreen Jokerst, Overland Park (KS) Police Department — Protecting the Vulnerable and Running to Us for Help

• Chief Joe Sullivan, Wichita (KS) Police Department — How Data-Driven Policing Reduces Violence

• Chief Darrell Lowe, Redmond (WA) Police Department — Leadership and Accountability in Policing

• Kristen Mahoney, Public Safety Leader — Being Curious and Educating the Leaders of Tomorrow

• Colonel Michael Rapich, Utah Highway Patrol — What It Means to Serve: Leadership and Legacy

• Chief Stacey Graves, Kansas City (MO) Police Department — The Kansas City Chief: Not the Football Team

• Chief Lee Bercaw, Tampa (FL) Police Department — How to Reduce Crime

• Chief Katherine Lester, Sacramento (CA) Police Department — The Art of Police Leadership

• President Patrick Yoes, National Fraternal Order of Police — The Truth About Crime, Police Unions, and Public Safety

• Sheriff Mark Lamb, Pinal County (AZ) — Fear Not, Do Right

• Chief Renee Hall, Dallas (TX) Police Department — Policing’s Toughest Conversations

• Chief Bryan Rippee, Texas Highway Patrol — Protecting Those Who Protect Us

• Sheriff John Allen, Bernalillo County (NM) — Common Sense Over Politics

• Chief Kevin Davis, Fairfax County (VA) Police Department — Rising Trust and Falling Crime

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New data shows there were approximately 11,500 shootings within 500 yards of U.S. K–12 schools in 2025—an average of 31 incidents per day—impacting more than 10,000 schools nationwide, or about 8% of all schools. Over the past decade, roughly 26% of schools have experienced at least one nearby shooting, with about 4,500 people killed by gunfire near schools last year. While incidents have declined from pandemic-era peaks, the data underscores how frequently gun violence still occurs in close proximity to schools across both urban and rural communities. 🔗 More here

U.S. Guns Fuel Cartels

Authorities estimate that between 500,000 and as many as one million firearms are trafficked from the United States into Mexico each year, with about 80% of weapons recovered at crime scenes in Mexico traced back to U.S. sources. U.S. enforcement efforts have intercepted a small portion of that flow, with the ATF reporting just over 4,300 firearms seized over the past 14 months despite the scale of trafficking. The pipeline often begins with legal purchases at U.S. gun stores, shows, and private sales, then moves through networks using straw buyers, online marketplaces, and smuggling methods such as hidden vehicle compartments, private planes, and boats, making the supply chain difficult to disrupt. 🔗 More here

Older Drivers Debate

There is no national standard for older driver licensing, with each state setting its own renewal rules and testing requirements. Data shows older Americans are driving more than ever, and while their crash rates have declined over the past 25 years, risk increases again after age 80; by comparison, teenagers and drivers in their 20s have the highest crash rates overall. A study cited in the report, based on more than 19 million drivers across 13 states over two decades, found higher crash rates among drivers ages 65–74 in states that loosened renewal requirements, highlighting mixed evidence as states balance safety and mobility. 🚙 More here 

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Threats to Lawmakers Rising

Threats against members of Congress continue to increase, with U.S. Capitol Police investigating nearly 15,000 concerning statements and threats last year—a 58% increase over the prior year—according to . Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan told lawmakers the department is on pace to exceed that number this year, calling the situation a growing “threat environment.” The agency is seeking its first-ever budget exceeding $1 billion as its mission expands, including providing security support for lawmakers beyond Washington, D.C., through mutual aid agreements in all 50 states. 🔗 More here

New Podcast Live

In this episode, Sheriff Dennis Lemma of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office joins the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership and service. He reflects on rising through the ranks, from correctional officer to sheriff, and shares how that journey has shaped the way he leads today. Sheriff Lemma also discusses the opioid epidemic, the importance of addressing root causes, and why he believes mental health is the next major challenge public safety must confront.

Judge vs. Police on Release

A Las Vegas judge ordered the release of a defendant with 35 prior arrests to an electronic monitoring program, despite police declining to place him in the program over safety concerns. Las Vegas Metro police said the defendant’s history includes prior bench warrants, failures to appear, and violations of the monitoring program, and argued Nevada law gives the sheriff authority to deny release if it poses “an unreasonable risk to public safety.” Sheriff Kevin McMahill said, “The safety of our officers is paramount… the safety of the public is key,” adding his office “will not violate the law… and let out people who he deems to be dangerous.” 🔗 More here

UK Launches Police AI Center

The UK is launching a new £115 million ($145 million USD) national center, “Police.AI,” to scale the use of artificial intelligence across policing, according to . Officials say the effort could free up the equivalent of 3,000 officers by automating administrative work, speeding investigations, and expanding tools like facial recognition and call transcription. The center will standardize, test, and deploy AI tools across all 43 police forces in England and Wales while also creating a public-facing registry to increase transparency and public trust. 🇬🇧 More here

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Drones and Crime Decline

San Francisco police report a sustained decline in crime and credit new technology, including drones and license plate readers, as contributing factors, with drones assisting in more than 1,000 arrests since their deployment in April 2024. The department currently operates 80 drones and 400 license plate readers as part of its Real-Time Investigation Center, which supports live monitoring and response to incidents. Car break-ins previously peaked at more than 28,000 reported cases in 2017, and the drone program was approved by voters in 2024 with 54% support. 📉 More here

The Origin of TASER

It starts with two brothers who fought so much as kids their parents gave them oversized boxing gloves just to manage the chaos — the same grit that later kept their company alive through moments that would have ended most startups. In this episode of Boldly Go, Tom and Rick Smith share the untold early days of TASER, from risky product tests (including the original pool demo) to near-arrest at LAX, fleeing Italy, and discovering a last-minute legal loophole that moved the company to Mexico and saved it. They also reflect on the moment their father told them they had “one more shot” — a line that defined what came next. And yes, we get into one of the most asked questions: can a TASER take down a bull — and what happens when it gets back up?

Two terrorism-related attacks in Michigan and Virginia on March 12 intensified concerns about threats to public gathering spaces in the U.S., according to CNN. In Michigan, a Lebanese-born U.S. citizen rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a synagogue in West Bloomfield while more than 100 children were inside, injuring a security guard and setting part of the building on fire. In Virginia, a former National Guard member and convicted ISIS supporter opened fire inside an ROTC classroom at Old Dominion University, killing Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and injuring two students before cadets subdued him. Federal officials say the attacks do not appear connected, but they come amid a heightened threat environment tied to broader geopolitical tensions and renewed concerns about security at religious institutions and schools. 🔗 More here

Alleged Iran Drone Threat

An FBI intelligence bulletin says Iran allegedly aspired to launch a surprise drone attack from a vessel off the U.S. coast targeting locations in California if the United States carried out strikes against Iran. Officials emphasized the information was unverified but shared with law enforcement as a precaution amid heightened tensions.

NYPD Officers Hailed Heroes

Two NYPD officers are being praised for quickly intervening after suspects attempted to deploy explosive devices during protests outside Gracie Mansion, according to WABC. Assistant Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro rushed toward a suspect who lit a fuse and dropped a smoking canister near a crowd, warning bystanders and chasing the individuals as the devices failed to detonate. Police arrested two suspects, ages 18 and 19, who investigators say were inspired by ISIS and allegedly planned to target anti-Muslim demonstrators, highlighting ongoing concerns about extremist threats at public gatherings. 🔗 More here

Medicaid Helps Reentry

A new federal policy now allows Medicaid to pay for certain health care and reentry services for incarcerated people up to 90 days before their release, helping jails and prisons better prepare individuals for the transition back into the community, according to The New York Times. The change addresses a long-standing gap in care that often left people without medications, treatment, or support immediately after release—a period when risks of overdose, relapse, and death are significantly higher. Twenty-seven states have sought or received federal approval to implement the policy, with California already enrolling tens of thousands of inmates through its Medi-Cal program. Santa Clara County Sheriff Bob Jonsen called the shift “fantastic and long overdue,” noting that stabilizing people before release can improve public safety and create safer environments inside correctional facilities. 🔗 More here

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Thieves Target AI Hardware

Cargo theft in the United States is increasingly focused on high-value technology tied to the AI boom, with criminals stealing shipments of advanced chips, RAM modules, and server hardware worth millions, according to The Washington Post. Industry data shows cargo theft losses jumped 60% last year to about $725 million, with thieves using more sophisticated tactics such as fake trucking companies, fraudulent shipping paperwork, and supply-chain infiltration to divert loads before companies realize they’re missing. Investigators say organized criminal groups are increasingly involved as the rapid growth of AI data centers drives demand—and value—for specialized computing hardware. 🚚 More here

Chief Makes Arrest

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis personally detained a suspect after witnessing an unprovoked assault at the city’s Central Library that left a victim in critical condition, according to CBS Austin. Police say 30-year-old Daniel Vasquez struck a man seated at a computer, knocking him unconscious before allegedly stomping on the victim’s head multiple times. Davis was at the library for a community meeting when the attack occurred and held the suspect until officers arrived. Vasquez was later booked into the Travis County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault with serious bodily injury as the investigation continues. 🔗 More here

Trooper Killed During Traffic Stop

A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was shot and killed during a traffic stop Sunday night after pulling over a driver reported for erratic driving, according to the Associated Press. Authorities said the suspect fired from inside the vehicle as Corporal Tim O’Connor approached the car. “Anybody you talk to tells you what a great guy he was,” said acting State Police Commissioner George Bivens during a late-night news conference. The gunman then exited the vehicle, walked a short distance away, and fatally shot himself. O’Connor, a 15-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police who was married with a young daughter, was pronounced dead at a hospital. 🖤💙 More here

Chief Search Narrows

Albuquerque officials have narrowed their search for the next police chief to three finalists following a nationwide recruitment effort, according to KOAT. The candidates include Dallas Assistant Police Chief Gilberto Garza, Albuquerque Interim Chief Cecily Barker, and former Seattle Assistant Police Chief Perry Tarrant. City leaders say 19 applicants initially sought the position, and public input from more than 1,000 residents helped shape the priorities for selecting the department’s next leader, with a final decision expected by the end of the month. 🚓 More here

Robotaxi Safety Forum

Federal regulators will host a national forum with the CEOs of Waymo, Zoox, and Aurora to discuss safety and regulatory issues surrounding self-driving vehicles. The meeting will explore topics such as robotaxi performance, remote assistance, and future guidance as the U.S. considers how to accelerate autonomous vehicle deployment while maintaining safety oversight. 🤖 More here

Philadelphia Sues Glock

The City of Philadelphia and District Attorney Larry Krasner have filed a lawsuit against gun manufacturer Glock, alleging the company has contributed to gun violence by promoting or enabling the use of illegal “switches” that convert semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons, according to FOX 29 Philadelphia. The lawsuit claims Glock’s marketing and social media demonstrations have helped normalize the devices—also known as auto sears—which can allow a handgun to fire up to 1,200 rounds per minute. City officials are seeking civil penalties and a court order blocking what they describe as “deceptive” or “predatory” marketing tied to the modifications, which have been linked to shootings in the city. Mayor Cherelle Parker said the company has “prioritized profit over the safety of its users and the general public,” while Glock had not publicly responded to the lawsuit at the time of the report. 🔗 More here

PERF at 50

The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) is marking its 50th anniversary, reflecting on its founding in 1976 by 10 police chiefs who sought to advance policing through research, professional leadership, and open debate. Since then, PERF has played a major role in shaping modern policing practices—from problem-oriented policing and use-of-force reforms to leadership development and national policy discussions—while continuing to promote innovation and accountability in law enforcement. 📖 More here

Coming This Week

Dropping this week, Seminole County (FL) Sheriff Dennis Lemma joins The Briefing Room for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, policing today, and the challenges facing sheriffs’ offices across the country. It’s a candid discussion about what it takes to lead in a complex environment and how agencies are adapting to new expectations and technologies.

🎙️ To catch up on all podcasts with local, county, and state police leaders, click here.

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U.S. security officials warn that Iran represents a “multi-dimensional threat” to the homeland as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies, according to CBS News. Former counterterrorism officials say potential risks could include cyberattacks, proxy operations, or plots carried out by individuals recruited inside the United States, including criminal networks paid to conduct attacks or assassinations. While authorities emphasize that law enforcement and intelligence agencies have spent decades monitoring these threat streams, experts say the current environment requires heightened vigilance from both government agencies and the public as officials watch for possible retaliatory actions. 🔗 More here

TATP Explosive Device

Police say an improvised explosive device was thrown during dueling protests outside Gracie Mansion, the New York City mayor’s residence, prompting a terrorism investigation, according to NBC News. The device, described as a jar wrapped in tape and packed with nuts, bolts, and a hobby fuse, contained a compound believed to be TATP — a highly volatile homemade explosive. Two men, ages 18 and 19, were taken into custody, and investigators say one referenced ISIS during questioning as authorities from the NYPD, FBI, and Joint Terrorism Task Force continue examining the incident. 🔗 More here

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FBI Network Breach

The FBI confirmed its networks were targeted by suspicious cyber activity discovered in February after abnormal log data was detected on a system used for surveillance tools and investigative data, according to CBS News. The affected system, known as the Digital Collection System, contains law enforcement–sensitive information including pen register and trap-and-trace data used to track phone numbers and IP addresses during investigations. Officials have not identified the actor behind the incident and say remediation efforts are ongoing as investigators assess the scope and whether any information was compromised. 💾 More here

New NJSP Colonel

D.C. Homicides Drop

Washington, D.C. began 2026 with nearly three weeks without a homicide — the longest stretch to start a year in decades — as violent crime continues to decline following a surge in 2023, according to The Washington Post. Police data show major crime categories, including robberies, carjackings, burglaries, and vehicle thefts, have fallen to or below pre-pandemic levels, with carjackings dropping sharply compared with recent years. Officials attribute the improvement to a combination of factors, including increased arrests and case clearances, federal law enforcement support, and expanded community-based violence intervention efforts, though experts caution the causes of crime trends are complex and still evolving. 🔗 More here

Repeat Offender Initiative

Louisville officials have launched a new initiative targeting repeat offenders who authorities say drive a disproportionate share of violent crime, according to WDRB. Data tied to the effort shows 581 repeat offenders were linked to 709 felony cases and nearly 1,800 felony charges in 2025, highlighting how a relatively small group accounts for a significant portion of crime. The program will bring together law enforcement, prosecutors and community partners to coordinate enforcement, intervention and rehabilitation efforts aimed at reducing repeat offending and improving public safety. 🔗 More here

Ballistics Tech Expands

Fort Wayne police are using advanced ballistic analysis technology to link shootings and identify gun offenders more quickly, according to WANE 15. The city’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center uses the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to analyze microscopic markings on shell casings and connect firearms to multiple crime scenes. Detectives entered more than 1,400 shell casings into the system in 2025, generating over 130 investigative leads and helping strengthen cases against violent offenders. Officials say the technology — combined with partnerships between local police and the ATF — is already contributing to a decline in shootings compared with the same period last year. 🔗 More here

CGIC Grant Webinar

BJA will host a live webinar on March 10 to discuss the FY25 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) Integration Initiative funding opportunity. The session will provide an overview of the grant program, which supports local agencies using ballistic intelligence tools and partnerships—such as NIBIN and ATF collaboration—to better identify shooters and link gun crimes. BJA officials will also walk through the application process. 📺 More here

Cocaine Cowboys to County Sheriff

Few leaders have seen the profession from as many angles as Loudoun County (VA) Sheriff Mike Chapman. Elected in 2011 and now serving his fourth term, he brings perspective shaped by 48 years in law enforcement. Before becoming sheriff, he worked major drug investigations with the DEA in Miami during the “cocaine cowboy” era and later served alongside international law enforcement partners in Pakistan and across Asia. In the latest episode of The Briefing Room, Sheriff Chapman reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy — from high-risk federal investigations to leading a large sheriff’s office in one of the fastest-growing counties in America.

Mullin for DHS

President Donald Trump has nominated Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security following the dismissal of Kristi Noem, according to PBS News/AP. Mullin, a former plumbing company owner, citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and former mixed-martial arts fighter, first entered Congress in 2012 and won his Senate seat in 2022. Known as one of Trump’s most outspoken defenders, Mullin said he would focus the department on “protecting the homeland” if confirmed. The role would place him in charge of a massive agency responsible for border security, immigration enforcement, cybersecurity, and domestic counterterrorism at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions and homeland security concerns. 🔗 More here

AI in Policing

Police departments are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools to help identify suspects and analyze crime data, including systems that can scan license plate reader images and flag vehicles linked to crimes within seconds, according to WPVI. At the Camden County Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center, AI helps process thousands of images to detect stolen vehicles, illegal dumping, and other offenses more quickly than traditional investigative methods. Supporters say the technology can improve efficiency and investigations, while critics emphasize the need for transparency, clear policies, and safeguards to address concerns about civil liberties and potential errors from AI-generated information. 🤖 More here

New NMSP Colonel

Former Austin Chief Named

The city of Taylor, Texas, has selected former Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon to lead its police department, according to KVUE. Chacon, a 31-year law enforcement veteran who served with the Austin Police Department for 25 years and was chief from 2021 to 2023, will replace longtime chief Henry Fluck, who retired last fall. Chacon most recently served as director of emergency services for the city of Pflugerville and said he looks forward to helping guide public safety in the rapidly growing community. The Taylor City Council is expected to formally confirm the appointment later this month. 👮‍♂️ More here

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A UNC-Chapel Hill researcher has launched the Carolina Blue Project, a study examining how job stress drives unhealthy eating and elevated heart disease risk among law enforcement officers, according to UNC Research. Data from the project — which has enrolled more than 600 officers across 56 North Carolina counties — shows that U.S. police officers have the highest risk of developing and dying from heart disease of any occupation, with 10% of all on-duty fatalities attributable to sudden cardiac death. Initial findings from the first phase revealed that roughly 60% of participating officers were obese and nearly one in five had high blood pressure, with officers reporting higher levels of anti-police sentiment, PTSD, and fear of victimization significantly more likely to engage in binge and loss-of-control eating. ❤️‍🩹 More here

Austin Mass Shooting

A mass shooting in downtown Austin’s popular West Sixth Street bar district left three dead and 14 injured in the early morning hours Sunday, with the FBI investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism, according to Axios Austin. The suspect, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal, was shot and killed by officers after driving around the block multiple times before opening fire on patrons at Buford’s Bar with a pistol, then exiting his vehicle and firing a rifle at pedestrians. Investigators found “indicators” on the suspect and in his vehicle suggesting a potential nexus to terrorism; he was wearing a sweatshirt reading “Property of Allah” and a shirt bearing an Iranian flag design. Three of the 14 hospitalized victims remain in critical condition, and the FBI said it is too early to determine an exact motive. 🔗 More here

Iran Threat: Homeland on Alert

Following U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security have moved to a heightened counterterrorism posture, warning of potential retaliatory attacks on U.S. soil, according to USA Today. FBI Director Kash Patel has directed the bureau’s 200-plus Joint Terrorism Task Forces nationwide to mobilize around the clock, while DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said her department is closely monitoring potential domestic threats. Experts note that Iran has a 46-year history of carrying out or plotting attacks on U.S. soil, and that U.S. authorities have disrupted at least 17 Iranian plots domestically since the 2020 killing of General Qassem Soleimani — including assassination plots against President Trump and former National Security Adviser John Bolton. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has publicly vowed retaliation, and three American service members have already been killed in the ongoing conflict overseas. Federal officials are also warning of potential Iranian-backed cyberattacks against U.S. networks. 🔗 More here

AI Chatbots Duty to Warn

A growing debate over whether AI chatbot companies have a duty to warn law enforcement when users discuss plans for violence has gained urgency following two high-profile cases, according to the New York Times. In January 2025, Matthew Livelsberger used ChatGPT to research explosive materials before detonating a bomb-laden Cybertruck outside a Las Vegas hotel; OpenAI only provided chat logs to investigators after the attack. More troublingly, OpenAI’s internal monitoring system flagged a Canadian user, Jesse Van Rootselaar, in June 2025 for discussing gun violence, but the company determined there was no imminent credible threat and banned the account without notifying police — Van Rootselaar went on to kill eight people, including children, in British Columbia this month. The cases have sparked debate among legal experts, former law enforcement, and tech industry insiders over whether chatbot companies bear an ethical or legal obligation to report suspicious activity, with some calling for mandatory suspicious-activity reporting similar to requirements placed on banks, while others warn such mandates could overwhelm law enforcement and raise constitutional concerns. 🔗 More here

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Trooper Killed by Repeat DWI Driver

A North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper was killed early Sunday morning when a wrong-way driver struck his patrol vehicle head-on, according to the News & Observer. Master Trooper Steven J. Perry, 30, a six-year veteran, died at the scene along with the other driver, 39-year-old Melshawn Moore, who investigators suspect was impaired at the time of the crash. Court records show Moore had been convicted of driving while impaired at least three times in North Carolina, and traffic citations ranging from reckless driving to open container violations had been dismissed in at least six separate cases dating back to 2010. 💙🖤 More here

Deputy Killed During Traffic Stop

A Bernalillo County (NM) Sheriff’s Office sergeant was killed in the line of duty Monday evening when a semi-truck struck the rear of his patrol vehicle while he was conducting a traffic stop, pinning him underneath and killing him at the scene, according to KOAT Action 7 News. Sergeant Michael Schlattman, a 14-year veteran of the department who had been promoted to sergeant in 2024, had served in special investigations, auto theft, and as a task force officer with both the U.S. Marshals Service and the DEA prior to his death. 💙🖤 More here

World Cup Security in Jeopardy

With just over 100 days until the FIFA World Cup kicks off, local officials from U.S. host cities warned Congress that frozen federal funding, inadequate coordination, and emerging threats — including drones, human trafficking, and cartel violence near Mexican host cities — are putting security planning at serious risk, according to ESPN. The federal government had earmarked $625 million for security across 11 host cities, but an 11-day freeze on Homeland Security funding has halted disbursement; Miami officials warned that without roughly $70 million in federal funds, late March marks a “drop dead date” for canceling Fan Fest events, while Kansas City officials said they lack sufficient staffing to cover all security threats. The National Fusion Center Association president testified that coordination between local agencies and the federal government remains far short of what is needed at this stage of planning. ⚽️ More here

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Pod: From Dispatcher to Chief

Chief Stephen Redfearn of the Boulder Police Department joins the podcast to reflect on a remarkable law enforcement career that began as a teenage dispatcher. He shares firsthand insights from responding to landmark tragedies such as Columbine, the Aurora theater shooting, and more recent acts of mass violence, including the Pearl Street terror attack in Boulder. He talks about how those experiences have shaped him, the impact on officer wellness, and the importance of community trust. The conversation also explores Boulder’s innovative use of technology and AI—from AI report writing to drones and the use of transparency dashboards—and why, even in an era of rapid technological change, policing remains a deeply human profession.

Cartel Drones Become Flashpoint

The growing use of drones by Mexican cartels has become a flashpoint in U.S.-Mexico relations, brought into focus by the temporary closure of El Paso’s airport last week, according to Reuters. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the closure to a cartel drone incursion, but government and airline officials later said the FAA shut the airspace due to risks from a U.S. Army counter-drone system being tested nearby. The Pentagon reports more than 1,000 drone incursions along the border each month, with cartels primarily using commercial drones to drop drugs and surveil border agents; experts note there has never been a confirmed cartel drone attack on U.S. soil. The episode comes amid repeated statements by President Trump about potential unilateral military action against cartels, with a DHS official previously warning Congress it is “only a matter of time” before law enforcement is targeted. 🔗 More here

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A Los Angeles Department of Water and Power-owned electrical substation near Boulder City, Nevada — a facility that transfers power from Hoover Dam to the Los Angeles Basin — was rammed by a vehicle early Saturday morning in what investigators are treating as a terrorism-related incident, according to ABC7. The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Dawson Maloney of Albany, New York, shot and killed himself after the crash. Investigators recovered multiple weapons, including a flamethrower, from his vehicle, and found explosive gas and books related to extremist ideologies — including right- and left-wing extremism, environmental extremism, white supremacy, and anti-government ideology — in his hotel room. Maloney had driven cross-country from Albany in the days prior and sent a message to his mother referring to himself as a “dead terrorist son,” stating he felt obligated to carry out the act; he was also found wearing soft body armor. ☠️ More here

Intruder Shot at Mar-a-Lago

A 21-year-old North Carolina man, Austin Tucker Martin, was shot and killed by Secret Service agents and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies early Sunday morning after breaching the perimeter of Mar-a-Lago armed with what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel canister, according to the New York Times. Officers ordered Martin to drop the items; he set down the canister but raised the shotgun to a “shooting position,” at which point he was fatally shot. President Trump was not at the property at the time of the incident, which occurred around 1:30 a.m. Martin, a recent high school graduate from Cameron, N.C., had started a golf course illustration business in 2025 and was described by a cousin as coming from a family of “big Trump supporters.” His family had been posting on social media throughout the weekend that he was missing, unaware he had already been killed. Authorities have not yet determined where he obtained the weapon or established a clear motive. 🔗 More here

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Badge, Bets, Betrayal

New Haven, Connecticut Police Chief Karl Jacobson was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of first-degree larceny after investigators say he embezzled up to $85,500 in public funds — the bulk of it drawn from a confidential informant fund — while placing approximately $4.46 million in online bets through DraftKings and FanDuel between January 2025 and January 2026, resulting in a net gambling loss of over $214,000, according to the New York Times. Jacobson, a 15-year department veteran who rose to chief in 2022, was placed on administrative leave by Mayor Justin Elicker in January after admitting to misusing city funds, but retired the same day; his resignation drew scrutiny from Connecticut’s Gaming Division, which subpoenaed records from multiple platforms. In a secretly recorded confrontation, Jacobson admitted to the theft and the gambling, asked colleagues to falsify records, and attributed the escalating behavior to addiction, saying he had previously struggled with alcohol and had “turned to gambling.” 🎰 More here

No Termination for Detroit Officers

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison reversed his decision to fire two officers who coordinated with federal Border Patrol agents in violation of department policy, according to the Detroit Free Press. After the city’s police oversight board voted unanimously to suspend the officers without pay for 30 days, Bettison said he was satisfied with the board’s decision and would not pursue termination. The reversal came after one of the officers — a 27-year veteran sergeant — filed a federal lawsuit arguing that department policies restricting contact with federal immigration authorities violate federal law prohibiting local governments from limiting communication with immigration officials; the suit also contends the sergeant contacted Border Patrol not to enforce immigration law, but to verify the identity of a person who presented a fraudulent Michigan driver’s license. DHS and ICE publicly praised the officers on social media, with ICE calling them “American heroes,” while Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield’s office said she supports the chief’s decision and respects the oversight board’s authority on disciplinary matters. 🔗 More here

Vegas Police Build AI “Brain”

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is developing what it calls an “AI brain” — a real-time system designed to connect internal databases, crime trends, and suspect histories — and expects to be among the first law enforcement agencies in the country to deploy the technology, according to KSNV. Sheriff Kevin McMahill announced the plans during the department’s annual State of the Department address, saying the system will accelerate investigations, shorten internal affairs reviews, and help prevent crime before it occurs. 🧠 More here

London Police Use AI Monitoring

Scotland Yard has confirmed it is using artificial intelligence tools developed by Palantir to monitor Metropolitan Police officers’ behavior — analyzing sickness levels, absences, and overtime patterns to identify potential misconduct, according to The Guardian. The time-limited pilot draws on data from multiple internal databases, with the force stating there is evidence linking unusual patterns in those areas to failures in standards and culture; officials emphasized that human officers make all final determinations. The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, sharply criticized the program as “automated suspicion,” warning that algorithmic tools risk misinterpreting heavy workloads or illness as indicators of wrongdoing and called for reliance on human judgment and fair processes instead. 🔗 More here

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Historic Crime Drop Nationwide

Violent crime fell dramatically across the United States in 2025, with experts expecting it to be the sharpest single-year drop in homicides in recorded history, according to The Hill. Data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association — covering 67 agencies — shows homicides down 19.3%, robbery down 19.8%, and aggravated assault down 9.7% from 2024 to 2025; similar findings were reported by the Council on Criminal Justice across 40 large American cities. The decline marks the fourth consecutive year of falling crime following a record spike during the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts debate the cause, with some attributing the trend to pandemic-era federal funding that helped communities hire more police officers and support staff, while the Trump administration credits aggressive law enforcement, border security, and deportation of violent offenders. The FBI has not yet published its official 2025 crime statistics, but findings are expected to align with both reports. 📉 More here

Milwaukee Gun Violence

Milwaukee is experiencing a sharp rise in gun violence over the past several weeks that is alarming even those dedicated to stopping it, according to FOX6 News Milwaukee. Police responded to three separate shootings within minutes of each other early Saturday morning, leaving three dead and two injured, including 38-year-old Kelvin Bonds Jr. and his younger cousin, shot and killed near 6th and Vienna. Stephen Hopkins, a program manager with the city’s Department of Community Wellness and Safety, said the volume of firearms on the streets is unlike anything he has seen, adding that prevention advocates are now focused on unifying efforts across multiple organizations to address the crisis before it escalates further. 🔗 More here

Cold Weather Drives Transit Crime

New York City’s subway system has seen an 11% uptick in transit crime so far in 2026, which the NYPD is attributing to record cold temperatures driving more people into the transit system, according to CBS New York. Despite the increase, the department noted transit crime remains down 7.5% from two years ago, and that the spike amounts to roughly six index crimes per day across a system used by millions of riders daily. The surge drew public attention after two women and a teenager were randomly attacked in Brooklyn, with one pushed onto the subway tracks, prompting the department to add additional officers throughout the system in response. 🚃 More here

Indiana Officer Shot and Killed

Beech Grove, Indiana, police officer Brian Elliot was killed and a second officer was wounded in a shooting. It happened as officers were responding to a report of a domestic disturbance. Indiana State Police identified the suspect in the shooting as 47-year-old Kenneth Johnson. He was taken into custody by IMPD SWAT officers.

Drunk Driver Kills DC Officer

Newly obtained video shows the aftermath of a crash that killed Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Terry Bennett, a 32-year-old eight-year veteran who was struck and killed while assisting a motorist on I-695, according to NBC4 Washington. The driver, Jerrold Coates, had a blood alcohol content of 0.16 — twice the legal limit — and also had marijuana in his system at the time of the crash; surveillance footage shows him speeding and weaving through traffic moments before striking Bennett, who was thrown approximately 22 feet. In a jailhouse interview, Coates acknowledged drinking but said he didn’t believe he was impaired. He has been charged with second-degree murder while armed and is being held without bond pending trial. 🔗 More here

North Carolina Trooper Killed

A North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper was killed early Sunday morning after losing control of his patrol vehicle while on duty in Robeson County, according to WSOC-TV. Master Trooper Stein Davis, Jr., a member of the 141st Basic Patrol School, drove off the road and overturned in a swampy area; he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight. The crash remains under investigation, and officials said information on a memorial service is forthcoming. 💙🖤💙 More here

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Federal investigators have identified a growing threat termed nihilistic violent extremism, characterized by a fundamental hatred of society and a desire to trigger the collapse of civilization through indiscriminate chaos. According to The Washington Post, this emerging strain of violence lacks a traditional political or religious agenda, with many young assailants radicalized in online subcultures that venerate mass killers as romanticized loners or “saints”. The internet serves as a primary catalyst, providing solitary individuals with technical expertise for attacks—such as drone-delivered explosives—while fostering a sense of community among those who believe society is beyond repair. High-profile cases include a 15-year-old in Madison who authored a “War Against Humanity” manifesto and a Wisconsin teenager who murdered his parents as part of an “accelerationist” plot to overthrow the government. ☠️ More here

Canadian School Shooting

Authorities have identified all eight victims of a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., which stands as the second deadliest school shooting in Canadian history. According to CBC News, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar—who was born a male and began transitioning six years ago—first killed her mother and 11-year-old half-brother at their home before driving to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where she fatally shot five children aged 12 and 13 and one educator. Police engaged the shooter within two minutes of arriving at the school, where she was found deceased from a self-inflicted wound alongside a long gun and a modified handgun that was not legally registered. While a formal motive has not been established, RCMP officials noted a significant history of mental health-related calls to the residence and revealed the shooter had been previously apprehended for assessment under the Mental Health Act. 🇨🇦 🖤 More here

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Causes of Police Shootings

In an upcoming issue of Critical Issues in Policing, Dr. Justin Nix conducts an analysis of officer-involved shootings in the United States, noting that recent data-driven research offers a more nuanced perspective on the causes of these encounters. According to Professor Nix, situational variables—specifically the presence of a weapon and the level of suspect resistance—are the primary drivers of an officer’s decision to use deadly force, often carrying more weight than demographics in real-world scenarios. While data shows that Black Americans are overrepresented in fatal shootings relative to their share of the population, Professor Nix explains that this disparity largely disappears when benchmarked against involvement in violent crime, illustrating how methodological choices shape the public perception of bias. His findings emphasize the role of organizational accountability, noting that agencies with stricter reporting requirements for pointing a firearm see fewer fatal outcomes, and he advocates for viewing these incidents as preventable system failures rather than purely individual errors. 🔗 More here.

Pressures of National Investigations

Retired Moscow (ID) Police Chief James Fry recently highlighted the immense strain local law enforcement faces during high-profile cases like the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie, describing the spotlight as a force that can cost a leader their career if handled poorly. According to The New York Times, Fry admitted his own failure to communicate quickly during the 2022 University of Idaho murders and stressed that the massive influx of media and tips creates a “special type of pressure” that requires immediate transparency to maintain public trust. He noted significant parallels between the two cases—specifically the reliance on video footage and DNA analysis—and warned that while national attention can generate crucial leads, it also risks prompting hasty police work or the arrest of the wrong person. Despite the personal toll of such cases, including chronic anxiety and exhaustion, Fry maintained that the grueling effort is justified by the eventual resolution for the victims’ families. 🫆 More here

New BR Pod: Chief Redfearn

He was a teenage dispatcher when Columbine happened, a sergeant responding to the Aurora theater shooting, and chief when a terrorist attacked (using a flame thrower) a solidarity walk for the Israeli hostages. Hear Chief Steven Redfearn share his journey and lessons from these defining moments on the latest episode of The Briefing Room podcast. Click above to listen 👆…

ICE Partnerships Surge

The number of local law enforcement agencies deputized to make federal immigration arrests has skyrocketed by 950% this year, rising from 135 to 1,168 nationwide. According to NBC News, this rapid expansion of the “task force” model is driven by massive federal incentives, including $100,000 for new vehicles and up to $2 billion in total potential funding for participating departments. While Florida and Texas lead the country with a combined 638 agreements, major agencies in Dallas and Maryland have opted out, citing concerns over diverted resources and a primary focus on local public safety. Although the administration maintains these partnerships are vital for community safety, public disapproval of such tactics has reached 60% following a recent fatal shooting involving federal agents in Minnesota. 🔗 More here

LAPD to Record ICE

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has issued an executive directive requiring LAPD officers to activate and preserve body camera footage when present at federal immigration enforcement scenes. According to the Los Angeles Times, the policy aims to increase accountability during federal raids by requiring officers to document agent credentials and record any reports of misconduct. While the Department of Homeland Security criticized the move as a legally questionable interference with federal responsibility, local advocates and former officials questioned whether a short-staffed LAPD can effectively audit the massive amount of new video data this directive will generate. 📸 More here

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NYPD Upgrades to Taser 10

The NYPD will equip officers with the Taser 10 this year as part of a broader modernization effort announced by Commissioner Jessica Tisch during her annual State of the NYPD address. According to the New York Post, the new model offers a 45-foot range—nearly quadruple the 12-foot reach of current devices—and carries 10 individually targetable probes to increase accuracy in high-stress situations. Commissioner Tisch emphasized that the upgrade is intended to reduce lethal force encounters by allowing officers to resolve dangerous situations from a safer distance, while also transitioning the department from handwritten logbooks to a fully digital command system. Additionally, the department plans to revamp the 311 dispatch system and is seeking federal authority from the Trump administration to disable unauthorized drones near major city events. 🔫 More here

Laser Tech at Border

The U.S. government has begun deploying high-energy laser weapon systems near the southern border to neutralize a pervasive drone threat from cartels, though the initiative has sparked significant safety disagreements between federal agencies. According to CBS News, Customs and Border Protection used a palletized laser system earlier this week near El Paso, leading to a temporary flight ban due to FAA concerns over the safety of civilian aircraft and the potential for unintended targets. While the lasers provide an instantaneous method to disable drones used for narcotics and human smuggling, early domestic deployment resulted in at least one mistaken engagement of a party balloon. Experts note that these efforts are a key component of the administration’s “Golden Dome” initiative, which aims to defend the homeland from all air and missile threats through a layered defense system including radio frequency disruption and directed energy. 🔗 More here

When Bots Attack

Last week, I wrote about the need to rethink policing for the age of artificial intelligence. Just as Sir Robert Peel invented modern policing to bring order to the chaos of the Industrial Revolution, we face a new frontier: how do we police a world shaped by autonomous machines? A few days later, that argument stopped being theoretical.

A Denver-based engineer woke up last Wednesday to find an AI agent had published a lengthy blog post bullying him. The reason? He had rejected code the agent submitted to an open-source project. The bot accused him of hypocrisy and bias. Hours later, the bot issued an apology. When an AI system causes harm—who do you call?

In the physical world, if a stranger harasses you, breaks into your car, or threatens to harm you, you call 911. We have been trained for a century that when there is an emergency, you call for help and police show up. 🤖 Full Substack here

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Arizona authorities have identified Pilot Robert Skankey, 61, and Trooper-Paramedic Hunter Bennett, 28, as the two crew members killed when their Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter crashed. The crew of Ranger 52 was responding to a chaotic domestic violence call in Flagstaff, where a 50-year-old suspect had opened fire on officers with a semiautomatic rifle from a residential rooftop. The crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. 🖤💙 More here

States Restricting ICE Cooperation

Multiple states are moving to prohibit or limit local law enforcement participation in federal immigration enforcement through 287(g) agreements, which allow local agencies to assist federal authorities in identifying and detaining people suspected of being in the country illegally. Maryland lawmakers have passed legislation requiring local sheriffs to end such agreements, while several other states have already enacted restrictions or are considering similar measures. Supporters argue the bans prevent local police from being drawn into federal immigration enforcement, while federal officials contend cooperation improves public safety and reduces arrests conducted on neighborhood streets. Since early 2025, agreements between federal authorities and local agencies have expanded rapidly nationwide, intensifying debates over states’ roles in immigration enforcement and prompting additional legislative efforts to further limit cooperation or restrict data sharing with federal immigration authorities. 🔗 More here

Immigration Oversight Strategy

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis has detailed a new oversight protocol intended to balance the requirements of state law with the necessity of community trust. While emphasizing that the Austin Police Department does not proactively enforce federal immigration law or consider status when responding to calls, Davis noted that the department must comply with Texas Senate Bill 4, which prohibits local policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. To navigate these complex legal boundaries, the department now requires that a duty commander be notified whenever federal officials request assistance with administrative warrants. This senior ranking member makes the final determination on whether such assistance is “reasonable or necessary” after reviewing the totality of the circumstances. This strategic layer of accountability is designed to prevent unnecessary detentions while ensuring that the department’s critically limited resources—currently facing severe staffing shortages—remain focused on emergency response and the city’s most urgent safety needs. 📰 Op-ed here

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Milwaukee Bans Facial Recognition

Following a contentious public hearing, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman announced a voluntary department-wide ban on the use and acquisition of facial recognition technology (FRT), effective immediately. The decision halts a proposed agreement with the data company Biometrica, which would have traded 2.5 million police mug shots for software licenses—a deal that drew over three hours of public testimony from residents and advocacy groups concerned about high misidentification rates among people of color and the potential for data misuse. While Chief Norman acknowledged FRT as a “useful technology to assist in generating leads,” he stated that maintaining public trust is “far more valuable” than the investigative benefits of the tool. However, the Milwaukee Police Association expressed deep disappointment, arguing that removing FRT—coupled with new restrictions on vehicle pursuits—unnecessarily limits law enforcement’s ability to solve violent crimes and protect the public. More here

New MCSA President

Last week, Pinellas County (FL) Sheriff Bob Gualtieri was sworn in as President of the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) during the association's Policy Conference in Washington, DC. Senator Rick Scott administered the oath of office to Gualtieri, who will lead the professional association for a two-year term representing the nation's largest sheriff's offices—those serving jurisdictions with populations of 400,000 or more. Gualtieri stated that the MCSA is well-positioned to impact national public safety through advocacy, policy priorities, and the collective expertise of its member sheriffs, who together serve a combined population of over 120 million citizens. 🔗 More here

Tucson Police Chief Retires

Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar has announced his retirement from law enforcement after 25 years of service to accept a role as deputy county administrator for Pima County beginning March 1, 2026. During his tenure as chief since 2021, Kasmar was credited with professionalizing the force and expanding the Community Service Officer program under the city’s Safe City Initiative. To ensure a smooth transition, City Manager Tim Thomure has appointed Deputy Chief Monica Prieto, a 26-year department veteran and Tucson native, to take over the leadership role. Prieto, who has served as the department’s number-two for the last three years, has stated that her primary goals include maintaining community trust and officer safety while continuing the collaborative safety strategies established by her predecessor. 🔗 More here

I’m Going to Jackson

Mayor John Horhn has nominated RaShall Brackney, a former Pittsburgh police commander with a Ph.D. in instructional management and leadership, to serve as the next chief of the Jackson Police Department. Brackney, who would be the third woman to lead the department, was selected following a months-long recruitment process triggered by the retirement of Joseph Wade in September 2025. Her career includes previous roles as police chief in Charlottesville, Virginia, and at George Washington University, as well as academic work at George Mason University focusing on police legitimacy and transparency. If confirmed by the Jackson City Council, Brackney will take over a department currently celebrating a decline in homicides to pre-pandemic levels while navigating internal shifts, including the recent departure of an assistant chief due to alleged political pressures. 🔗 More here

Major Cities Violent Crime Declines

Preliminary year-end data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association reveals a significant downward trend in violent crime across the United States and Canada in 2025. In the US, homicides plummeted by 19.3%, falling from 6,758 to 5,452, while robberies saw a nearly identical drop of 19.8%. According to the MCCA survey, which includes data from 67 of 68 responding U.S. agencies, other violent categories also experienced decreases, with rape down 8.8% and aggravated assault dropping by 9.7%. Major metropolitan areas saw substantial improvements, with Chicago recording 170 fewer homicides and New York City seeing a 27% reduction in homicides alongside a decrease in overall aggravated assaults. Canadian cities reflected this positive shift as well, reporting a 25.2% decrease in homicides and a 7.5% reduction in robberies. 📉 MCCA report here

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Fully Automatic Handgun Used

Early Sunday morning, Fall River (MA) police fatally shot 40-year-old Nigel Vaughn after he allegedly opened fire on officers with a Glock handgun modified with a “switch” to make it fully automatic. According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, the encounter began following a 911 call regarding an armed man in an SUV; when officers attempted a pat-down, Vaughn allegedly resisted violently and produced the modified weapon during the ensuing struggle. Vaughn allegedly fired multiple rounds at the officers, striking one in the elbow and another in his bullet-resistant vest before police returned fire. All involved officers have been discharged from the hospital, while Vaughn, a previously convicted gang member who had served a lengthy prison sentence for a 2005 double shooting, was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a local medical center. 🔗 More here

Crisis Teams in Crisis

Mobile crisis response teams, which dispatch mental-health professionals instead of police to psychiatric emergencies, have significantly reduced police time spent on mental-health calls — nearly 80% in Bozeman, Montana — while helping people stay safely at home and avoiding unnecessary ER visits and jail bookings. Despite rapid national expansion to roughly 1,800 teams, many programs face closure because funding is inconsistent; Medicaid and private insurers often reimburse only portions of the service, leaving teams dependent on grants and short-term funding, creating instability for communities trying to build alternatives to police-led crisis response. 🔗 More here

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