The Weekly Briefing 🇺🇸
Rise of Nihilistic Extremism
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
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
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