The Weekly Briefing đşđ¸
Curated news and insights for police leaders, technologists, and researchers
Why Murders Are Falling Nationwide
Murders fell at least 14% in 2024, with early 2025 data pointing to even steeper declines, according to AH Datalytics and the Council on Criminal Justice. Analysts say the COVID-19 pandemic was a key driver, disrupting daily life, shrinking public services, and removing support systems for at-risk youth. Now, as local governments reboundârestoring jobs, rec centers, and outreach programsâmany cities are seeing sharp crime drops. In Detroit, where homicides hit their lowest point since 1965, officials credit a combination of modern policing, community investment, and violence interruption efforts. đ Read more
Getting Away with Murder
In 2023, the U.S. solved just 58 percent of homicidesâmeaning nearly half of all murders go unsolvedâand clearance rates for other crimes are even lower (46 percent of assaults, 28 percent of robberies, 27 percent of rapes, 8 percent of vehicle thefts), leaving families like those of Louisville victims feeling abandoned by departments that are some 300 officers below strength; compared with peer nations that routinely clear 70â90 percent of murders, Americaâs mix of high gun violence, overwhelming case volumes, gang dynamics and community distrust has eroded the certainty of captureâa far more powerful deterrent than long sentencesâand although targeted initiatives in Boston and adoption of technologies like facial recognition and shot-detection systems have boosted clearance, agencies must now partner with researchers to pilot new resource-allocation strategies, rigorously evaluate emerging tech under privacy safeguards and co-develop community-centric investigative models to rebuild trust and drive up clearance rates. đ Read more
FOP: 166 Officers Shot So Far in 2025
As of July 1, the National Fraternal Order of Police reports that 166 officers have been shot in the line of duty in 2025âdown 14% from this time last year. Twenty-one of those officers were killed by gunfire. The report also highlights 36 ambush-style attacks resulting in 45 officers shot, 8 fatally. While the downward trend is encouraging, ambush attacks remain a persistent and deadly threat to law enforcement nationwide. đ Report here
Santa Ana Police Assist Families After Immigration Raids
In the wake of high-profile federal immigration arrests, the Santa Ana Police Department is offering help to families whose loved ones have been detained. Officials are asking residents to report abandoned vehicles or property that may belong to those picked up by federal agents. Police say theyâll make âreasonable effortsâ to contact family members or retrieve belongings on their behalf. The outreachâshared in both Spanish and Englishâcomes amid growing community concern and aims to support affected families and reduce fear during increased immigration enforcement activity. đ Read more
Vote: Best Looking State Police Cruiser
The American Association of State Troopers has launched its 12th annual Best Looking Trooper Cruiser Contest, and voting is officially open. View agency photos and select your favorite via SurveyMonkey. The winning agency earns the title âBest Looking Trooper Cruiserâ and will be featured on the cover of the 2026 AAST Wall Calendar, with proceeds supporting scholarships for troopersâ families. đłď¸ Vote here
Sinaloa Cartelâs Internal Collapse Sparks Alliance
Facing internal warfare, financial strain, and a joint U.S.âMexico crackdown, the Sinaloa Cartel is fracturing. In a move likened to Cold War diplomacy, a faction led by El Chapoâs sonsâLos Chapitosâhas reportedly formed a desperate alliance with their longtime enemy, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The deal trades territory for weapons and funding, and could radically reshape global drug trafficking networks. Experts warn it may spark new cartel wars and shift fentanyl operations to new regions as enforcement tightens in Sinaloa. đ Read more
Families Urge U.S. to Label More Cartels as FTO
A coalition of Americans who lost loved ones to cartel violence is calling on the Trump administration to designate the JuĂĄrez Cartel and its armed wing, La LĂnea, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the group argues that the designation would send a clear message that attacks on Americans won't be tolerated. Survivors of a 2019 massacre shared powerful testimonies, demanding justice and greater protections from cartels. đ Read more
Sir Mark Rowley: Police Are Not Social Workers
In a Sunday Times op-ed, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley argues that by shedding bureaucratic distractionsâsuch as policing non-crime hate incidents (just 0.05 % of calls) and shouldering the roughly $30 million annual cost of policing Premier League matchesâofficers can focus on crime fighting at a time when the Met is 3,300 posts lighter yet still arresting over 1,000 more criminals monthly and driving neighborhood crime down 19 percent; Rowley calls for âonce in a generationâ reform of the outdated 43-force model into larger regional forces backed by national capabilities and cutting-edge technology, alongside a streamlined criminal justice system with faster charging powers, so that frontline officers can concentrate on halving knife crime and violence against women and girls rather than acting as social workers. đ Read more
Launched! Police Briefing Live
Our new website launched today to go with the Weekly Briefing: www.policebriefing.com. Contains all editions of the WB. Plus, the NEWLY launched Daily Briefing, a continuously updated rundown of the dayâs top public safety stories. Look for companion weekly podcast, the Briefing Room, this month. Bookmark it and check it often.
Sheriffs Urge Federal Crackdown on Illicit Vape Products
The National Sheriffsâ Association (NSA) has issued a resolution calling for stronger enforcement against illegal e-cigarettes and flavored vape products flooding U.S. communitiesâmany of which originate in China and bypass FDA regulation. The group warns these products are designed to appeal to children and teens, often disguised as toys or school supplies. With youth vaping on the rise, the NSA is urging Congress, the FDA, and state legislatures to bolster interagency enforcement, close legal loopholes, and protect public health. đ Resolution here
Law Enforcement Groups Warn Against DHS Intel Rollback
Four major U.S. law enforcement associationsâthe Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, Major Cities Chiefs Association, Major County Sheriffs of America and National Fusion Center Associationâsent a July 2, 2025 letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warning that plans to slash the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis workforce by up to 75 percent would âweakenâ critical partnerships with state and local agencies and create âavoidable gapsâ in real-time threat response; top Democrats on the House and Senate Homeland Security and Intelligence committees echoed that concern, while DHS insists itâs eliminating only âredundant positions and non-critical programsâ to refocus on its core missionâbut with escalating threats from terrorism, transnational crime and cyberattacks, agencies say any major change must be shaped in consultation with the field to preserve vital intelligence-sharing platforms. đ Read more
Detroitâs Safe Surrender Program Reduces Violence
A unique âsafe surrenderâ initiative in Detroit is quietly reshaping how police engage with armed suspects. Led by activist Ray Winans and his group Detroit Friends and Family, the program helps individuals wanted in connection with shootings or gun crimes turn themselves in safelyâavoiding high-risk police encounters. Since 2022, the initiative has guided over a dozen surrenders and has been credited with an 83% reduction in shootings in its target zone. Police leadership say the effort not only increases safety but also boosts trust with local communities. đ Read more
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