The Weekly Briefing 🇺🇸
Deputy Killed on Welfare Check
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
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