More Poverty,
Less Trust
(#469, 6/23/25)

Citizens who most need the
cops trust them the least

Violence Isn't Down
for the Cops
(#468, 5/30/25)

More officers are being
murdered. And mostly,
with guns.

A Lethal Distraction
(#467, 5/12/25)

A foot pursuit of hit-and-run
suspects turns into
an exchange of fire with
an armed resident

Putting Things Off
(#466, 4/27/25)

Pursuits hurt and kill
innocents. What are
the options?

Gun Control?
What's That?
(#465, 4/1/25)

Ideological quarrels
beset gun laws.
And gun law-making.
And gun law-enforcing.

Forewarned is
Forearmed
(#464, 3/19/25)

Killings of police officers
seem inevitable.
What might help?

Who's Under the Gun?
The ATF, That's Whom
(#463, 3/6/25)

Going after gun controllers,
for the usual reasons

Who's Under the Gun?
The FBI, That's Whom
(#462, 2/14/25)

Going after the FBI
for going after
the Capitol rioters

Point of View
(#461, 1/30/25)

Do scholars really “get”
the craft of policing?

All in the Family
(Part II)
(#460, 1/6/25)

A decade after Part I,
domestic killings
remain commomplace

Acting...or Re-acting?
(#459, 12/8/24)

An urgent response
proves tragically imprecise

Citizen Misbehavior
Breeds Voter
Discontent
(#458, 11/20/24)

Progressive agendas
face rebuke in even
the "Bluest" of places

A Matter of Facts
(#457, 11/3/24)

Did flawed science place
an innocent man
on death row?

Want Brotherly Love?
Don't be Poor!
(#456, 10/12/24)

Violence is down in Philly,
L.A. and D.C.
Have their poor noticed?

Prevention Through Preemption
(#455, 9/16/24)

Expanding the scope of
policing beyond
making arrests

Switching Sides
(#454, 8/30/24)

St. Louis’ D.A. argues that
a condemned man
is in fact innocent

"Distraction Strike"?
Angry Punch? Both?
(#453, 8/11/24)

When cops get rattled,
the distinction may
ring hollow

Bringing a Gun
To a Knife Fight
(#452, 7/30/24)

Cops carry guns.
Some citizens flaunt knives.
Are poor outcomes inevitable?

"Numbers" Rule –
Everywhere
(#451, 7/2/24)

Production pressures
degrade what's "produced" –
and not just in policing

Is Crime Really Down?
It Depends...
(#450, 6/20/24)

Even when citywide
numbers improve, place
really, really matters

Kids With Guns
(#449, 6/3/24)

Ready access
and permissive laws
create a daunting problem

Keep going...

6/27/25 Texas is one of 29 states without a “Red Flag” law. Such laws authorize judges, on application from police or family members, to issue “Extreme Risk Protection Orders” that direct the seizure of firearms from allegedly dangerous persons. A new Texas law forbids localities from adopting such laws, and makes it a felony for officials to act on them. It also bars judges from ordering that guns be seized except in criminal cases or in family law matters where a protective order is in effect. Related post

As agencies around the country have discovered, drones can alert street cops of lurking dangers and other critical information while they’re enroute to a call. With that in mind, the Los Angeles Police Commission, LAPD’s civilian overseers, has loosened rules that restricted the use of drones to barricaded suspects and such. In the future they can be deployed on any “call for service.” They’ll also be available for observing mass events. Tracking lawful demonstrators, though, is forbidden. Related post

“The 5th. Street Crew” and the “Philly Flowers.” One year ago these and other groups fell in the bull’s-eye of Pennsylvania's newly organized Organized Retail Crime Unit. Established by the State Attorney General, its mission was to go after the ring leaders whose crews had been swarming clothing, electronics and food stores in and near Philadelphia. During the past year its investigations have led to charges against “more than forty” defendants and the recovery of over $2 million dollar’s worth of purloined goods. And they’re just getting started. Related post

While employed as a “constitutional policing” advisor to former L.A. District Atty. George Gascon, a “progressive” with an eye out for bad cops, Diana Teran gave him information about eleven troubled deputies that she got during a prior stint with the Sheriff’s Dept. That drew the ire of the former Sheriff and of the new D.A., who had ousted Gascon. Teran was charged by the Calif. Atty. General with improperly using confidential information. But an appeals court just dismissed the case. According to its ruling, everything that Teran furnished was part of a court record and accessible to the public. Related post

6/26/25 Cynthia Gonzalez is vice-mayor of Cudahy, a small, poverty-stricken community in Southeast Los Angeles County. She recently posted a video on social media that berates street gang members for not participating in demonstrations against immigration sweeps. It ends on this note: “So whoever is the leadership over there just fucking get your members in order.” Ms. Gonzalez has been criticized by the city. And by a local police union, which pointed out that local gang members have murdered Hispanic cops. Click here for the video. Related post

Three years ago a 12-year old Philadelphia boy riding a bicycle fired at undercover officers who tried to stop him, shattering a police car’s back window. Then-officer Edsaul Mendoza caught up to Thomas Siderio on foot and shot the boy dead. As it turns out, Mendoza  knew that the boy had already tossed his gun, but he fired anyways. Last year Mendoza pled guilty to 3rd. degree murder and drew 8-20 years. Philadelphia just agreed to settle a lawsuit by the boy’s family for $3 million. Related post

As the Administration implements its forceful immigration agenda, litigation pro- and con- continues to mount. ACLU is suing Nassau County (Long Island, NY) for authorizing its cops to partner with ICE and make immigration arrests. Meanwhile, DOJ sued the Orange County (CA) Registrar of Voters for refusing to provide information about non-citizens who try to vote. And the State of Minnesota for letting illegal aliens pay in-state tuition. There are also struggles within the Federal system. DOJ has sued Maryland’s Federal District Court for automatically enjoining the removal of any immigrant who files a habeas petition. Immigration updates   Related post

Violence is up in Cincinnati, with 172 violent crimes during the last month-long period compared to 147 in 2024. That includes twelve homicides, compared with four last year. Mayor Aftab Pureval warns that this surge is having a “real, tangible, and negative impact on our local economy, the health of our communities, and our vibrancy as a city.” Police are responding with a citywide task force. And they’ll be increasing the use of drones. Related post

6/25/25 Three weekend shootings in Montgomery killed a 13-year old and left a man in the hospital. That’s led Alabama’s capital city to enhance the police response in hard-hit areas. Along with a bolstered police presence and an increased focus on suspected offenders, license plate readers, facial recognition tools and drones will be put into play. Montgomery will also expand its Star Watch program, which integrates residential cameras into a citywide system. Related post

“Scientific” interviewing? A new Police Chief article urges cops to avoid making confessions their objective when interviewing criminal suspects. That can provoke false admissions of guilt and lead to a wrongful conviction. Instead, officers should focus on gathering information. Obtaining detailed exculpatory statements can help identify the innocent and build “stronger, more reliable” cases against the guilty. Related post

“Guns and drugs go together.” That, according to Attorney General Pamela Bondi, is why it makes sense to abolish ATF and assign its functions to DEA. Her plan, which is part of DOJ’s 2026 proposed budget, would need Congressional approval. But gun-control groups (and a few members of Congress) worry that, given the budget cuts already planned for ATF, a merger would further weaken oversight of the gun industry. Even some gun enthusiasts are opposed, but for the opposite reason. A merger, they fear, would create “a taxpayer-funded super agency to target gun owners. Related post

Civil injunctions against street gangs have lost favor in California. Five years ago Los Angeles  settled a lawsuit that accused its officers of falsely labeling persons as gang members by dropping injunctions against 46 named gangs. Their example was just followed by Orange County, which dropped injunctions against thirteen gangs. According to D.A. Todd Spitzer, the move was prompted by a 2022 State law that substantially narrowed the definition of a gang or gang activity. Related post

6/24/25 Just passed by the House, H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would (among many other things) Federally deregulate silencers. At present, they require special vetting and the payment of a $200 fee. Senate bill 1162, the SHORT Act would remove similar requirements (pre-approval and a fee) that apply to “short-barreled firearms” (rifles with barrels under 16” and shotguns with barrels under 18”.) Instead, they would be considered ordinary firearms. Gun enthusiasts say they favor silencers because they protect hearing; skeptics fear they would make it harder for police and citizens to react to shootings. Related posts 1   2

Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act empowers specially-trained police officers to enforce immigration laws. Under the “jail” model suspected illegal immigrants brought in for other crimes can be held for ICE. And under the “task force” model, which has been reportedly adopted by “more than 330” agencies, patrol officers can detain suspected illegal immigrants during routine patrol. During a recent several-day period, Tennessee highway patrol officers, trailed by ICE, turned over “nearly 200” immigrants they stopped for traffic violations. Seventy had no criminal record; ninety-five had a criminal record, and thirty-one had illegally re-entered after deportation, a Federal felony. Immigration updates   Related post

6/23/25 California law prohibited buying more than one handgun a month. Its purpose was to stem the flood of purchases by “straw buyers” who supply the illicit gun marketplace. But a Ninth Circuit panel just declared that “the plain text of the Second Amendment protects the possession of multiple firearms and protects against meaningful constraints on the acquisition of firearms through purchase.” Neither, they opined, did the law have the “historical analogue” required by Bruen. Bottom line: Californians can resume buying as many handguns at one time as they wish. Ruling Related posts 1   2

A 16-year old gang member faces four murder counts after opening fire at a carnival in a Salt Lake City suburb. His admittedly intended target, an 18-year old rival gangster, was fatally wounded. But a pregnant woman and an infant she was pushing in a stroller were also killed, and two teens suffered non- fatal wounds. Prosecutors have asked that the shooter remain in custody. Related post

Earlier this month Chicago police officer Krystal Rivera was accidentally shot and killed by her partner as they tried to apprehend a man who fled into an apartment. That man, identified as Jaylin Arnold, 27, managed to flee. But he’s just been arrested for a parole violation. Arnold has been twice convicted and imprisoned for being a felon with a gun. He again faces that charge, as guns were found in the apartment he shared with Adrian Rucker, also an ex-con. Arnold’s also been charged with drug crimes; there were drugs in the apartment, and when caught he had eleven bags of suspected crack. Related posts 1   2

Effective July 1st., police in Connecticut will be prohibited from using “minor equipment issues” such as defective tail lights to justify traffic stops. They’ll be authorized to stop pot smokers, but only if they observe weed being used and can smell its distinctive aroma. Related post

Police in Highland Park, IL were dispatched on a 911 call about a man who had been lying in the middle of the street and “stumbled” into a nearby home. When they went to the residence a man suddenly exited and charged at them with a raised knife. He ignored repeated orders to drop the knife and was shot. Brent Bucholtz, 59 reportedly died from “multiple gunshot wounds.” A neighbor said that Mr. Bucholtz had been placing “very controversial” signs outside his home. Related post

A Saturday evening Juneteenth celebration near a VFW post in Anderson County, SC drew hundreds, including families and children. But the festive atmosphere was spoiled by a fight. Gunfire soon erupted, killing a thirty-five year old woman and wounding nine others, some seriously. Deputies spent hours combing through grounds festooned with empty cartridge casings. More than one shooter is thought to have been involved, but there were no immediate arrests. South Carolina allows the open carry of firearms without a permit. Related post

6/20/25 “This budget would be a win for unscrupulous gun dealers and a terrible setback for A.T.F.’s state and local law enforcement partners.” That’s the reaction of the president of a gun-safety group to DOJ’s FY 2026 (Oct. 2025-Sept. 2026) budget request, recently posted online. It foregoes hiring new or replacement ATF special agents. It also eliminates the positions of 541 inspectors who license and oversee gun dealers, thus “reducing ATF’s capacity to regulate the firearms and explosives industries by approximately 40 percent.” Huge chunks of money will also be stripped from crime gun tracing and from operating costs. Meaning, among other things, no new cars and no transfers. Related post

“The evidence showed that Karen Read didn’t receive a fair shake from police, and I think the jury saw that as polluting the whole case.” That’s what a former prosecutor said about the acquittal of a Boston woman of murdering her cop boyfriend by backing over him with her car as she dropped him off at a party. (His body was found the next morning.) But her supporters argue that Karen Read was set up by the detective on the case. Michael Proctor has disparaged Ms. Read in texts and wrote that he wouldn’t investigate the homeowner because he, too, was a cop. Ms. Read’s first trial ended in a hung jury, and Proctor wasn’t called to testify at the retrial. Read was convicted, but only of drunk driving. Related post

Acting on an appeal from the Administration, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit overruled a District Court decision that branded the Fed’s call-up of the California National Guard as unlawful and unconstitutional. According to the panel, the language of 10 U.S.C. § 12406, whose wording requires that the President act “through” a Governor, does not require that the Governor agrees with the call-up. Instead, the fact that the order was sent to the State’s Adjutant General suffices. As for the call-up’s purpose, the panel agreed that  immigration protesters had placed Federal employees and Federal property at risk. Decision   Immigration updates   Related post

6/19/25 On May 22, 2025, two weeks after a hopelessly deadlocked jury derailed the trial of former Grand Rapids, MI police officer Christopher Schurr for murdering Patrick Lyoya, Kent County prosecutor Chris Becker announced that the highly controversial case would not be retried. Both the NAACP and the Urban League have implored Attorney General Dana Nessel to step in. A.G. Nessel once told reporters that she would prosecute if asked. But her present intentions are unknown. Related post

Texas legislators have sent on a number of bills that would loosen up the State’s already-permissive gun laws. Orders to strip defendants of their guns (i.e., Red Flag Laws) would be barred in civil cases. Short-barreled firearms, including those illegal under Federal law, would become legal under State law. Law enforcement agencies would be barred from participating in gun buyback programs. And while handgun carry is generally legal in Texas, permits that allow guns to be carried in restricted areas would be easier to get. Related posts 1   2

Fellow protesters at a “No Kings” rally in Philadelphia called the cops on Kevin Krebs, a 31-year old local man who was carrying a pistol under his raincoat. Police detained him, and a search of his person turned up the handgun along with “nine fully loaded magazines, a bayonet, pepper spray and a ski mask.” Krebs was arrested for unlicensed carry. An AR-15 style firearm was found in his vehicle, and a search of his home uncovered armored vests, drawings of grenades, and an assortment of pipe bombs, some containing nails and pellets. Krebs has been denied bail. Related posts 1   2

6/18/25 Texas legislators are moving to increase criminal punishments and otherwise tighten up the criminal justice system. One measure would prohibit judges from releasing persons charged with certain violent felonies. Another bill, which was prompted by a surge in organized retail theft, would tie penalties to the total value of the stolen goods. Should that exceed $300,000, the punishment would be up to life in prison. A third measure, which presently awaits the Governor’s signature, requires that sheriffs who run jails participate in a Federal program that allows local officers to enforce certain immigration laws. Related post

Birmingham, AL man Damien McDaniel, 22, faces capital murder charges for allegedly gunning down eighteen persons in 2023 and 2024. He allegedly murdered eleven patrons and wounded twenty-nine during a three-month span last year. That includes mass shootings at two nightclubs: one in July, which killed four patrons and wounded ten, and another in September, which killed four and wounded seventeen. He is also charged with committing single fatal shootings on each of three days last August and September. McDaniel apparently had seven other victims in 2023. His trials will begin next year. But with all the publicity, finding “fair juries” won’t be simple. Related post

6/17/25 Vance Luther Boelter, the Minnesota man who murdered a State legislator and her husband and wounded another State legislator and his wife, has been charged with stalking and murder in Federal court. According to the FBI, Bolter actually went to the homes of four legislators that morning. His second trip was to a residence in Maple Grove. Video depicts him impersonating a police officer, banging on the door and saying he had a warrant. But no one was home. He was then spotted in New Hope, near another legislator’s home. But police had been sent there to check on the occupant’s safety, and he drove off. Click here for AP’s detailed timeline. Related post

Residents of Colorado, Delaware, Utah, Virginia and Washington who fear they might harm themselves can petition to have their rights to buy and possess guns suspended. Known as “Donna’s Law,” these statutes have been praised for preventing impulsive suicides. Their provisions cannot be invoked by the Government or third parties: only the potential victim can apply. But opposition from the NRA and the gun industry is frustrating efforts to expand the law’s geographical reach. Related post

Lawsuits challenging NYPD’s aggressive “stop, question and frisk” policies and practices led to the imposition of a court-ordered monitor over a decade ago. And the most recent imbroglio concerns the agency’s “community response teams.” Instituted in 2022 after Mayor Eric Adams took office, they were supposedly intended to address neighborhood quality of life issues. But the monitor has found that CRT’s have been energetically stopping and searching residents, virtually all non-White. That’s the behavior that got NYPD into trouble in the first place. Related post

6/16/25 Early Saturday, June 14, reports of gunfire led police to the Champlin, MN home of State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Both had been seriously wounded. Officers from nearby Brooklyn Park promptly went to the home of State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. They found Vance Boelter, 57, as he was shooting through the home's front door. They exchanged fire and Boelter fled on foot; the bodies of the couple were found inside. “AK-47” style firearms were in Boelter’s police-like vehicle. It also contained a notebook with the names of lawmakers, community leaders, abortion rights advocates and healthcare facilities. Both legislators that Boelter targeted are Democrats. After an intensive search, Bolter was arrested, without incident, on Sunday afternoon. Related post

“Burglary tourists” continue to beset Southern California. In Simi Valley, a prosperous Ventura County suburb an hour’s drive from L.A., police arrested Chilean citizens Manuel Ibarra, Camilo Lara, Sergio Mejia-Machuca and Heidy Trujillo for making off with over $3 million dollars’ worth of goods from a jewelry store. In an elaborately carried-out scheme that involved the use of ropes and ladders, they got in by busting into an adjoining business and boring a hole through the wall. Their arrest, which was made possible by security camera footage, came three weeks after the burglary. Police recovered about $600,000 worth of goods and $20,000 cash. According to the store’s owner, it was a “bittersweet” ending. Immigration updates
Related post

Truancy besets D.C.’s school system. One-third of its K-12 students - 16,000 - missed at least two weeks during the 2024 school year. Truancy has markedly increased during the last decade. It’s far worse in D.C.’s economically-deprived areas, where youth crime is also off the charts. An in-depth piece in the Washington Post blames schools and public officials for failing to implement (or properly implement) special programs that provide floundering students with academic supports. And for not acting when the programs that are in place don’t work out. But many readers point to lousy parenting and a poor home environment as the underlying causes, and truancy and crime as their effects. Related post

6/13/25 An in-depth investigation by The Trace revealed that Chicago’s homicide clearance rates are significantly lower when victims are Black. That finding comes on the heels of a major revamp of Chicago P.D.’s homicide investigation process, which implemented recommendations made by reviewers from the Police Executive Research Forum. Changes included increasing the number of specialized homicide detectives and adjusting their caseload to enable them to pursue long-term investigations. Technology was also upgraded. But reformers point out that residents of the city’s poorer areas continue to be deeply distrustful of the police. They are less likely to cooperate with detectives, which inevitably affects what crimes get solved. Related post