Police Issues

Thought-provoking essays on crime, justice and policing
 

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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


De-Prosecution?
What's That?

(#448, 4/27/24)


Philadelphia's D.A.
eased up on lawbreakers.
Did it increase crime?


Ideology (Still)
Trumps Reason

(#447, 4/9/24)


When it comes to gun laws,
“Red” and “Blue” remain
in the driver’s seat


Shutting the Barn Door
(#446, 3/19/24)


Oregon moves to
re-criminalize hard drugs


Houston, We Have
(Another) Problem

(#445, 2/28/24)


Fueled by assault rifles, murders plague the land


Wrong Place, Wrong
Time, Wrong Cop

(#444, 2/8/24)


Recent exonerees set "records"
for wrongful imprisonment


America's Violence-
Beset Capital City

(#443, 1/20/24)


Our Nation's capital
is plagued by murder


Are Civilians Too Easy
on the Police? (II)

(#442, 12/18/23)


Exonerated of murder,
but not yet done


Warning: (Frail)
Humans at Work

(#441, 11/29/23)


The presence of a gun
can prove lethal


See No Evil - Hear No
Evil - Speak No Evil

(#440, 11/14/23)


Is the violent crime problem
really all in our heads?


Policing Can't Fix
What Really Ails

(#439, 10/18/23)


California's posturing
overlooks a chronic issue


Confirmation Bias
Can be Lethal

(#438, 9/21/23)


Why did a "routine" stop
cost a man's life?


When (Very) Hard
Heads Collide (II)

(#437, 9/5/23)


What should cops do when
miscreants refuse to comply?
Refuse to comply?


Keep going...

 


 

 













 

 


2/14/25 Kashyap Patel, a former DOJ terrorism prosecutor, served as a senior terrorism official at the National Security Council and, most recently, as Chief of Staff to to the Acting Secretary of Defense. Described by Reuters as a “fierce Trump loyalist,” he blasted the FBI's investigations of the President as the work of a “deep state.” As the President’s pick to head the FBI, Patel just squeaked through the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on a 12-10 “party-line” vote. It’s now left to the full Senate to decide. Related post

2/13/25 New York State’s Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act (“Green Light Law”) prohibits sharing driver license and vehicle registration information with immigration authorities. It also informs illegal aliens when such information is requested. These restrictions just led DOJ to sue New York and its Governor, Kathy Hochul. New York’s A.G. fired back. "Our state laws, including the Green Light law, protect the rights of all New Yorkers and keep our communities safe. I am prepared to defend our laws, just as I always have." Immigration updates  Related post

Ten million dollars. That’s the settlement reached by Sangamon County, Illinois with the family of Sonya Massey, a disturbed woman who was shot dead last July by then-sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson. Deputy Grayson was hired in 2023 despite concerns by other agencies about his skills and suitability for law enforcement. Captured on video, his shooting of Ms. Massey, who threatened him with a pot of  water, was deemed wholly unnecessary. He remains in custody pending trial for murder. Related post

2/12/25 In 2008 a homeless Colorado woman got probation after pleading guilty to writing a bad check. Under Federal law, that felony prohibits her possession of firearms. Years later, the single mom wanted a gun for protection. So she sued. But a Federal court repeatedly upheld the prohibition. As did the 10th. Circuit. But the Supreme Court ultimately ordered it to reconsider “in light of” its Rahimi decision. It just did. And once again it affirmed the prohibition’s constitutionality. Other Circuits, though, have disagreed. And the battle over Rahimi continues. Decision Related posts 1   2

In Sept. 2024 Colt Gray, 14, used an AR-15 style rifle given to him by his father, Colin, to murder two fellow students and two teachers at Apalachee High School, Winder, Georgia. Colin knew that his son was deeply troubled but nonetheless gave him the gun as a Christmas present. That led to his being charged with 29 counts, including two of murder and two of manslaughter. On November 21 the father pled not guilty to all charges. And although survivors objected, a judge just released him on $500,000 bond. He will  be staying at his sister’s home, 70 miles from Winder. Related post

2/11/25 Four years ago Fairfax County, Va. Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano helped free Elon Wilson, a Black firefighter who was imprisoned for gun and drug crimes on the word of an officer who chronically lied about his traffic stops. D.A. Descano has now partnered with the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project to create Virginia’s second “conviction integrity unit,” which will review claims by convicted persons, with preference for those still confined, that they are in fact innocent. Related post

A shooting at a New York City street parade last September killed one person and wounded four. NYPD promptly attributed blame to an unnamed teen whose photo it posted on social media. But after meeting with the person it depicts, 15-year old Camden Lee (and with his lawyer), the cops conceded he wasn’t the one. His photo, though, nonetheless resurfaced in the media. This incident caused Lee to miss “weeks of school” and has played havoc with his life. And that of his family. And yes, a lawsuit is in the works. Related post

2/10/25 Issued three days ago, Presidential Executive Order “Protecting Second Amendment Rights” orders DOJ to review Federal laws and rules enacted between 2021-2025 that “may have impinged on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.” That includes ATF regulations which tightened dealer oversight, banned pistol braces and addressed “ghost guns.” Also in the bull’s-eye is the “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act,” a law that, among other things, removed loopholes which allowed some gun buyers to bypass background checks. Related post

In March 2024 Chicago tactical officers pulled over a car driven by Dexter Reed. He opened fire and wounded an officer who approached. Reed was shot and killed in a hail of gunfire. But the reason for the stop is unclear. His survivors sued, and Chicago’s City Council is mulling over a proposed $1.25 million settlement. In a formal editorial, the Chicago Tribune strongly objects. “Surely, it’s possible to hold police accountable for wrongdoing or terrible mistakes while also supporting them when they act reasonably in the face of mortal danger...this case strikes us as about more than money. Sometimes a principled stand is in order.” Related post

In a departure from prior Administrations, which sought to insulate the Attorney General from politics, the Trump White House insists that it’s free to bring up civil and criminal cases with the Justice Department. Candidates for top intelligence and law enforcement positions are also being asked to answer “Yes” or “No” to two questions: Was January 6th. “an inside job”? Was the 2020 election “stolen”? It’s reported that two candidates who didn’t answer “yes” to both were passed over. Immigration updates  Related post

2/7/25 Whether imported from China or grown on illicit domestic pot farms, Black-market marijuana, much of it replete with dangerous pesticides, is the trade in stock of unlicensed outlets. But it also often winds up on the shelves of licensed, ostensibly legitimate pot retailers. Customers are urged to ask about the “source and potency” of marijuana they purchase. Cities and States are moving to crack down on the illegal market; California seized $200 million of illegally grown weed in 2024. But the problem persists. Drug legalization updates   Related post

Just filed in Illinois Federal court, a lawsuit by the Trump administration alleges that Illinois, Cook County and Chicago, each a self-anointed “sanctuary” jurisdiction, are using State and local laws - the Way Forward Act, TRUST Act, Welcoming City Act, and Cook County Ord. 11-073 - to interfere with Federal immigration enforcement. These statutes, the suit claims, prohibit local officers from providing critical information and deny access to persons in custody, leading to “countless criminals being released into Chicago who should have been held for immigration removal from the United States.” Lawsuit Immigration updates  Related post

2/6/25 A Georgia judge threw out the criminal case against former D.A. Jackie Johnson, who was on trial for having obstructed the investigation of the notorious 2020 murder of Brunswick man Ahmaud Arbery. Johnson had allegedly told police to not investigate the killers, Greg McMichael and his son Travis McMichael, as the father was a retired county detective. But witnesses said she never told police to back off, and the judge found that compelling evidence to the contrary was lacking. Related post

Emil Bove, Trump’s acting Deputy Attorney General, issued a memo accusing top FBI officials of “insubordination” for resisting his attempts “to identify the core team” of agents that investigated the Capitol riot. But he also reassured that agents “who simply followed orders and carried out their duties in an ethical manner” would not be penalized. Capitol updates   Related post

“More than 29 billion views.” That’s how many times gun fanciers have turned to YouTube  channels hosted by firearms experts who provide detailed instructions for using and modifying guns so they’re as reliable and lethal as possible. Google and other carriers, though, have faced lawsuits for helping enable would-be killers (Payton Gendron is one example), so they’ve restricted the content. Special channels have popped up to fill the void. Say, T. Rex Arms, a major gun and accessories retailer that offers free online instruction, including a series on “how to shoot.” Related post

2/5/25 Highly lethal weapons produced by U.S. manufacturers have long been smuggled into Mexico, where Cartels use them to fuel an epidemic of violence. Mexico, which has only one licensed gun dealer, tightly regulates gun sales, but American guns have created an overwhelming problem. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is now linking her cooperation with the U.S. on other matters, including migration, to its willingness to control illegal gun exports. She has also turned to litigation; Mexico’s current lawsuit against U.S. gun makers is before the Supreme Court. Related post

DOJ asked the FBI to identify all agents who participated in the Capitol investigation to help it determine whether any crossed the line. “Thousands” of agents have also been instructed to complete a questionnaire about their roles. That’s now led to a pair of Federal lawsuits by unnamed FBI agents who object to the probes. One of the actions, filed by nine unnamed agents, claims that the inquiries are unlawful, violate their privacy rights, and place them and their families at personal risk. Capitol updates   Related post

Guantanamo. That’s where a U.S. millitary flight just landed with the first set of illegal migrants to be housed at the facility, technically a U.S. Naval base. Three-hundred U.S. troops were on hand to welcome the new arrivals. New Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was once assigned there while in the military, calls it a “perfect place” for its new duty, which will supplant holding a dwindled contingent of evildoers from 9/11 days. Gitmo, it’s claimed, can house up to 30,000 immigrants. A dodgy future seems assured. Related posts 1   2

2/4/25 Six days after a 14-year old opened fire at Georgia’s Apalachee High School, a 14-year old Florida girl posted a threat to blow up her school. That led to her prompt arrest, followed by three weeks in detention. Like consequences quickly befell several other youths in Volusia County. “This is absolutely out of control, and it ends now,” said its Sheriff. According to the Washington Post, “at least 477 people — 90 percent of them students” were arrested across the U.S. for making threats during the two weeks after Apalachee. Like spurts in threats and arrests have also followed other school shootings. Related post

“Dozens” of prosecutors hired by the Biden administration to prosecute January 6th. Capitol assault cases have been summarily dismissed. According to the new Administration, their firing is justified as their “career” status was improperly conferred. Agreeing with President Trump’s view of the January 6th. cases as a “grave national injustice,” Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove has called for their positions to be filled by “merit- based” hires. Capitol updates   Related post

Former L.A. County D.A. George Gascon’s progressive, go-easy approach led voters to replace him with Nathan Hochman. Gascon had endorsed resentencing the Menendez brothers to straight life terms, which could lead to their parole. His prosecutors on that motion, Brock Lunsford and Nancy Theberge, remained on staff. They are now suing current D.A. Hochman for defaming them and reassigning them to lesser roles. Like retaliation claims were once made against Gascon by prosecutors who said they were punished for opposing his progressive policies. Related post

2/3/25 A Friday evening, Jan. 31 shooting in chronically impoverished South Los Angeles left two men dead and wounded four men and a boy. Nine days earlier “a confrontation between rival gang members” in L.A.’s beset MacArthur Park area wounded six, three critically. In-between these episodes, the L.A. Times reported that LAPD’s number of cops - 8,620 - is the fewest in thirty years. But it reassured readers that “recent crime statistics indicate the city is becoming safer even as the department shrinks. Related post

President Trump’s January 25 Executive Order, “Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government,” berated the “ruthless” prosecution of the Capitol rioters. According to the Washington Post, acting Deputy A.G. Emil Bove just issued a memo demanding that eight FBI executives resign or be fired. Warning that “additional personnel action” is anticipated, he calls for “a sweeping examination” of all FBI agents who helped investigate the Jan. 6th. affair, President Trump’s possible role, and his alleged hoarding of classified documents. James Dennehey, New York City's top FBI agent, reacted with an e-mail that urged his staff to "dig in": “Today, we find ourselves in the middle of a battle of our own, as good people are being walked out of the F.B.I. and others are being targeted because they did their jobs in accordance with the law and F.B.I. policy.” Capitol updates   Related post

Four months before MPD cop Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd he allegedly used his knee to pin a drunk female motorist to the ground after she stuck her car in the snow. Minneapolis is paying $600,000 to settle Patty Day’s lawsuit. In 2023 the city paid out $9 million to settle lawsuits over Chauvin’s misuse of his knee against two persons other than Floyd. Related post

1/31/25 Three days ago the sheriff’s office serving Ithaca, N.Y., “a self-described sanctuary city,” refused to honor a Federal warrant for the arrest of Jesus Romero-Hernandez, who illegally re- entered the U.S. after a removal.  Romero-Hernandez, whom local authorities had jailed for 3rd. degree assault, was released after pleading guilty and drawing a sentence of “time served.” Federal immigration agents tracked Romero-Hernandez down. He is now in custody and will be arraigned in Federal court. Immigration updates  Related post

Located near Fresno, Sanger is a small Northern Calif. city of about 26,000 population. Yes, it has its own police department. And on January 29 a Federal jury convicted former Sanger police officer J. DeShawn Torrence on eight counts of deprivation of rights for forcing four women to engage in nonconsensual sex. His acts, which were committed while on duty during 2017-2021, included rape, kidnapping and sexual assault. He faces life in prison. Related posts 1   2

Located in Louisiana, the Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has invalidated a host of Federal gun control measures, from prohibitions against “bump stocks” to laws that forbid drug users and persons under domestic violence restraining orders from acquiring guns. And now they’ve moved against the law that prohibits selling handguns to persons under 21. “Ultimately, the text of the Second Amendment includes eighteen-to-twenty-year-old individuals among 'the people' whose right to keep and bear arms is protected.” And the fight is on. Related posts 1   2

1/30/25 Georgia legislators are mulling over bills that respond to the March 2024 Apalachee High School shooting, when 14-year old Colin Gray used his father’s assault rifle to kill two fellow students and two teachers. One would require that parents keep guns locked up and inaccessible to their kids. Another would help schools identify and “monitor” problematic youngsters even if they change school districts, as Colin did after he and his father were questioned by deputies over his threatening online posts. Related post

Just signed into law by President Trump, the Laken Riley Act requires that Federal authorities detain illegal immigrants who are arrested for any of a variety of crimes, including burglary, theft, shoplifting and assault on a police officer. It’s named after a Georgia nursing student who was murdered in 2024 by an illegal alien from Venezuela who had been arrested for shoplifting but was let go. President Trump has also just ordered the construction of a detention center at Guantanamo Bay that could house up to 30,000 illegal immigrants. Immigration updates  Related post

1/29/25 CONNECT RENO allows businesses and homeowners in Reno, Nevada to register their security cameras so that police can use the images should a crime happen nearby. Citizens can also allow their cameras to be perpetually connected with police, thus making their feeds instantly available. The bordering city of Sparks has also joined in. CONNECT RENO   Related post

New York City, whose “sanctuary” policy limits police cooperation, has become another target of the new immigration enforcement campaign. On their first sweep, ICE teams arrested twenty illegal aliens. Twelve had criminal or terrorism-related records. They included a suspected Yemeni terrorist, a “human rights violator” from Myanmar, a Dominican wanted by Interpol for homicide, and an Ecuadorian with a pending charge for sexual assault. He had been previously convicted for illegal entry. Immigration updates
Related post

A 14-year-old D.C. youth “with a big smile” was shot dead by another 14-year old during a robbery spree by the killer and his two 16-year old brothers. Video surveillance depicts the shooting. It also shows the three robbers holding up other victims, then fleeing in a White Kia sedan. Their arsenal included a .40-caliber pistol, a 9mm. pistol, and “a Kalashnikov rifle in a duffel bag.” Related posts 1   2

1/28/25 D.C. District Judge Amit P. Mehta reversed her day-old ruling barring Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and seven underlings from D.C. Judge Mehta explained that according to the 11th. Circuit Court of Appeals, she had to abide by the U.S. Attorney’s interpretation of the President’s Executive Order. And in this case, Trump’s newly-appointed U.S. Attorney, Ed Martin, argued that the commutations had wiped out the entire sentences, including their non-custodial aspects. Capitol updates   Related post

 

Right


 

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