Former Detective Linked to Murder
More than 65 years after eight-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz was abducted and murdered while walking to church, Chicago Police say DNA and fingerprint evidence has identified former department homicide detective Thomas F. McInerney Jr. as the suspect. According to the Associated Press, McInerney joined the Chicago Police Department in 1959, retired in 1987 and died in 2006. The original investigation included more than 1,300 interviews and hundreds of door-to-door inquiries. Preserved evidence, including Gloria’s clothing and a fingerprint from her communion purse, helped investigators identify McInerney with assistance from the FBI and Illinois State Police. Prosecutors are reviewing other cases that may have involved him. 🔎 More here
Police Disrupt Shooting Plot
A tip about threatening electronic messages led police in suburban Chicago to arrest a 19-year-old accused of planning a mass shooting, potentially targeting a Hindu place of worship. According to Reuters, investigators recovered a rifle, loaded magazines, ammunition and a tactical vest, along with material expressing white supremacist views. The suspect was charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapon possession. 🚨 More here
Researchers Jason Silva and Adam Lankford examined 483 U.S. mass shootings between 2000 and 2023, finding that 41% were preceded by threats or disclosures of violent intent. Among incidents involving advance warnings, 54% were reported before the attack, and 83% of those reported received a criminal justice response. Public mass shootings were more likely to involve advance warnings, at 71%. Across all 483 incidents, 22% were reported before the attack and 18% received a documented criminal justice response. Most warnings were communicated in person (82%), followed by direct messages (22%) and online posts (14%), with some incidents involving multiple methods. The study was published in the American Journal of Criminal Justice in September 2026. 📄 Read the study
Houston’s Records Overhaul
Houston Police plan to launch a $31 million records management system after more than a year of delays. The Houston Chronicle reports the city approved a seven-year contract with Versaterm Public Safety in 2023, with the system originally scheduled to launch in late 2024. Delays required an extension of the existing vendor’s contract costing up to $1.7 million. The department’s previous records system was among the problems identified in a 2024 investigation that found more than 264,000 incident reports had been shelved since 2016 under a code citing insufficient personnel. Former Chief Troy Finner retired amid the fallout. The replacement system is intended to manage incident reports and make case information accessible across divisions and agencies. 💻 More here
AI Misconduct Warning for Police
Britain’s Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has urged police chiefs to review their artificial intelligence policies following allegations that officers and staff used AI outside department rules. The watchdog is conducting two independent investigations into AI-related gross misconduct allegations and is aware of additional cases handled locally by police forces. IOPC Director General Rachel Watson warned that officers attempting to use AI to work more efficiently could face misconduct proceedings, including possible dismissal, if they do not understand what is permitted. The IOPC has written to the National Police Chiefs Council calling for clear policies, regular updates and practical training on appropriate AI use. 🤖 More here
Secret Service: Threats Surge
ICYMI - In a 60 Minutes interview, Secret Service Director Sean Curran reported that threats against the agency’s full-time protectees have increased more than 40% over the past year, with approximately 10,000 threats recorded since January. Curran and Deputy Director Matt Quinn also discussed the growing threat posed by drones, including the agency’s development of AI-assisted detection and counter-drone systems. Quinn acknowledged that defending against coordinated drone swarms remains an unresolved challenge. The report also examined staffing shortages, new protective technologies and changes made following the 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.
St. Louis Extends Chief’s Contract
The St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners voted October 17 to extend Police Chief Robert Tracy’s contract through October 2030, increasing his annual base salary to $295,000. According to FOX 2, the board acted after learning that other cities were interested in recruiting Tracy, who has led the department since 2023. Police officials report that overall crime has declined 45%, murders 43% and juvenile shootings 60% during his tenure. The agreement was approved during a special board meeting. 👮 More here
Cornelius Names Next Chief
Jennifer Thompson, a 25-year veteran of the Cornelius Police Department in North Carolina, has been named the department’s next chief and will become its first female leader. According to Cornelius Today, Thompson joined the department as a cadet in 2001 and has served as an officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and deputy chief. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Gardner-Webb University, completed the FBI Leadership Trilogy and was named the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce Officer of the Year in 2008. She succeeds Chief David Baucom, who is retiring at the end of the year. 👮 More here
Study Examines Officer Wellness
A national study of 6,522 people with sworn law enforcement experience found that 21.1% of respondents completing the PTSD screening met the threshold for clinically significant symptoms. Another 19.9% screened positive for alcohol-related risk, 16.9% for anxiety and 16.2% for depression. Published in Policing: An International Journal, the study also found an association between longer workweeks and higher levels of anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms. The results are based on self-reported screening measures, not clinical diagnoses, and the percentages have different denominators. The study was published in August 2026. 📊 Read the study
Louisville’s Officer Wellness Model
Louisville Metro Police’s 30,000-square-foot Summit Wellness Center recorded more than 33,000 visits in 2025, including over 4,000 physical therapy visits and 1,739 mental wellness contacts. According to the Louisville Metro Police Foundation’s executive director, writing in Police1, the center’s physical therapy services helped prevent an estimated 1,400 lost shifts. The facility offers fitness, counseling, injury recovery, financial education and family support services. More than 200 communities have visited Louisville to learn about the program. The visit totals and estimated shifts preserved were reported by the center’s operators. 💪 More here
In Memoriam: Major Sean A. Meagher
Last week, we lost a friend. Retired Minnesota State Patrol Major Sean A. Meagher passed away October 8 at age 57. Sean served 26 years with the Minnesota State Patrol before retiring in April 2024. He was a strong advocate for bringing better technology to state police agencies and giving troopers the tools they needed to do their jobs more effectively and safely. Sean was also a regular reader of the Weekly Briefing. He is survived by his wife, Angela, and their three daughters, Meg, Kate and Elizabeth. Sean will be missed by his family, friends and colleagues. 🖤💙 Read his obituary