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9/2/25 In Bronzeville,
a South-side Chicago neighborhood, seven pedestrians, ages 28-32, were wounded late Saturday evening when the occupant of a
passing car opened fire. Early Monday morning, another shooting in Bronzevlle wounded five persons, ages 17-36, the youth critically. And in-between, in the Humboldt Park area on
the city's West side, three women and a man, ages 26-39, were wounded in a Sunday morning drive-by. No arrests as yet in any of
these shootings. Bronzeville and Humboldt Park both suffer from significant poverty.
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A police pole camera recorded the savage January 2023 beating of Tyre Nichols by five members of A Memphis P.D.
crime suppression team. Nichols didn't survive the encounter. Federal charges were levied against each officer. Two pled
guilty to State and Federal charges. Three were acquitted of State charges but found guilty of Federal violations at trial.
That conviction, though, was just thrown out because the judge was allegedly biased against the accused. So another Federal
trial looms. Polecam video
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Police in
Torrance, Calif. have long been under the Federal eye for "racially-hostile" practices. Torrance seldom hired minority
applicants, and its officers allegedly mistreated minority citizens with impunity. In 2020 years of racist "online chatter"
by Torrance cops came to light, and the State A.G.'s office stepped in. Its investigation just led to a wide-ranging consent
agreement. Torrance P.D. has agreed to revamp its internal management practices and submit to oversight by an external body.
An independent monitor will also keep an eye on things.
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U.S. Park Police who are part of the
Federal surge into D.C. are pursuing motorists for reasons that don't meet policies set for for D.C. police. Local officers
can only chase persons who are acting dangerously or may have committed a violent crime. Park Police also had restrictive rules,
but these have been purposely set aside. So they're pursuing everyone who fails to stop, regardless of the violation. Six of ten
recent chases ended in crashes. One car hit a tree; another struck multiple vehicles at high speed. One vehicle flipped.
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8/29/25 D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser praised the effects of an ongoing surge of Federal agents onto the streets of D.C.
Comparing the same twenty-day periods, there were five homicides this year, three fewer than in 2024. Robberies were more than
halved and carjackings dropped from 31 to "just four." D.C. police chief Pamela Smith also spoke highly of the Federal-local
partnership. But the Mayor said that she wasn't praising the National Guard or "masked" members of ICE. And several Council
members have bitterly objected to the Federal presence altogether.
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Facial recognition technology
is blamed for the mistaken arrest earlier this year of a man who was drastically different in size and build from an alleged
flasher. But the innocent stranger had a like hairstyle, beard and mustache, and was recently arrested for an assault. A facial
recognition program identified his mugshot after comparing it to surveillance video, and the victim picked his photo from a
lineup. No other investigation was done. Trevis Williams spent two days in a New York City jail before cellphone data proved he
had been elsewhere.
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8/28/25
“I don’t want to do it to spread a message. I do it to please myself. I do it because I am sick.” These words appeared on one
of several YouTube videos recently posted by Robin Westman, the 23-year old who opened fire at Minneapolis' Annunciation Church and
grade school, killing two boys and wounding 17 others. Westman's videos depict "a shooting target with an image of Jesus," along
with guns bearing racist messages, “psycho killer,” and “suck on this!”. Westman wrote that he was fascinated by Sandy Hook killer
Adam Lanza and Pittsburgh synagogue killer Robert Bowers. Related posts
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D.C. abolished the death penalty
forty-four years ago. But it can still be imposed should Federal laws be applied and jurors agree. President Trump is now pressing
to have each D.C. murder Federally prosecuted and to seek the death penalty in every case. He's also announced his intent to have
Congress extend Federal control over law enforcement in the capital city beyond the 30-day period normally authorized by law.
He agreed that D.C. is indeed "a beautiful place.” But he added that with crime, "nothing looks beautiful." And he forecast that
crime "will be the big subject of the next election."
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8/27/25 “We are getting some violent people off the streets — but in the long run, at what cost?” That's how a ranking D.C.
police officer feels about the presence of armed troops. While some visitors to the capital think the military can make things
safer, many long-time residents are upset at the intrusion. One described it as an "occupation". Mixed feelings were also expressed to reporters by
residents of D.C.'s most violence-stricken areas. While one called the military intervention "a blessing," some fear that it will
imperil the progress that was being made establishing trust with the police.
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Joining an
ongoing inquiry by DOJ, a House panel is now examining whether D.C. police leaders ordered officers to downgrade reported
crimes to make the capital seem safer. D.C.'s post-2023 "historic" drop in violent crime is also being challenged by the police
union. Earlier this year allegations that D.C. police commander Michael Pulliam inappropriately altered crime data led to his
suspension. But the police chief has reportedly said that Pulliam's scheme is the only that's been uncovered. Related posts
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8/26/25 Pre-trial release without bail? In 2023 Illinois eliminated bail, leaving it to a judge to decide whether releasing
an accused pre-trial unreasonably endangered others. Several other States and many localities have greatly reduced its use. Reform
advocates insist that cashless release doesn't affect crime rates. Not so, says President Trump. He just signed an Executive Order that
directs the AG to identify jurisdictions that have eliminated bail "for crimes that pose a clear threat to public safety and order,
including offenses involving violent, sexual, or indecent acts, or burglary, looting, or vandalism." His threat: to strip them
of Federal funding.
Bail special topic
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8/25/25 “I think Chicago will be our next...and then we’ll help with New York.” President Trump's notice that he
intends to send troops to clean up the Windy City's "mess," just like he did in D.C., rattled more than a few cages. Chicago Mayor
Brandon Johnson warned it would do nothing but "inflame tensions." Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker called it "an authoritarian power
grab." U.S. Senator Dick Durbin characterized it as "political theater." But whether a performance is truly in the offing is
hard to say.
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Maryland Gov. Wess Moore is decidedly "Blue." And he just invited "blissfully ignorant" President Trump, who hinted he might
send in the troops to Baltimore, to walk the city's streets with him. Criminal violence declined 8 percent between 2023-24 in the
city, and homicides were nearly a quarter fewer. Trump, alleges Moore, is "spouting off a bunch of lies about public safety in
Maryland." Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker attributes Trump's rhetoric to racism. "Not one white mayor has been designated."
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8/22/25 In July
three LAPD officers with Hispanic surnames encountered Jeremy Flores, 26, sitting in a van holding what 911 callers said
was "a possible assault rifle." Flores was uncooperative and supposedly raised the object. Officers opened fire, fatally
wounding him. His weapon was an airsoft rifle, which fires plastic pellets. Flores recently served a jail term for violating
probation and was reportedly trying to better himself. His family despairs, and community members are voicing outrage.
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Deviating from the Administration's reportedly pro-gun stance, DOJ has petitioned the Supreme Court to overrule
a decision by the Fifth Circuit (Texas) Court of Appeals that the Federal law which prohibits gun possession by drug users
violates the Second Amendment. In this case, a dual citizen of the United States and Pakistan, and chronic pot smoker, had been
charged with unlawfully owning a pistol. Ali Danial Hemani is also supposedly associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Petition
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8/21/25 Baltimore is reeling,
from good news. It's suffered fewer homicides during the past seven months than in any comparable period in 50 years.
If the pace continues, its 2025 homicide rate would come in at 25/100K pop., "last seen in 1978." Baltimore credits much of the
drop to "Safe Streets." Violence-intervention workers seek out and connect with individuals and groups who are at risk of gun
violence to offer them the critical things they lack, including housing, drug and mental health treatment and job training.
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A recent poll of D.C. residents
reveals little support for the President's decision to take charge of policing. Thirty-one percent of residents feel crime is an
"extremely" or "very serious" problem. That proportion was 65% in 2024 and 50% last May. In May, 26 percent of residents reported
feeling "very safe" in their neighborhoods. That's now 39 percent. But the proportion of those who consider crime to be D.C.'s
main problem did go up a notch, from 21 percent in May to 22 percent now. Responses to how crime could be reduced were topped by
increasing economic opportunity in poor neighborhoods (77 percent). Stricter gun laws got 70 percent, and more cops got 63 percent.
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8/20/25 Bryan Kohberger, a Washington State criminology doctoral student, was recently sentenced to life in prison for
fatally stabbing four U of Idaho students in 2022. Kohberger has refused to explain his motives. But fellow PhD candidates had
repeatedly voiced complaints to faculty about Kohberger's hostile, sexist attitude, and several professors had recommended that
he be kicked out of the program. Kohberger reportedly liked talking about "sexual burglary," and some considered him "a possible
future rapist."
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As the
battle over control of D.C. police continues, the US Attorney is investigating allegations that crime has been purposely
undercounted to make the capital city look better. Indeed, a police commander was relieved of duty in May for ordering that reports of violent crime
in his area (the Third) be classifed in a lesser category. Gregg Pemberton, the FOP union leader, has also disparaged the reported
year-to-year 28% drop in violent crime as "preposterous."
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A 17-year old Illinois
high school student and member of the wrestling team was accidentally shot and killed by his 20-year old friend as the pair
competed, as two other youths watched, over who could take apart and reassemble a 9mm. pistol the fastest. Keyshaun D. Davis, 20,
was using his mother's pistol, and the group was taking videos of the contest. Davis, who faces involuntary manslaughter charges,
was released pending court action.
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8/19/25 Two Tremonton, Utah police officers were shot and killed by a local man who exited his residence and opened fire as
they arrived on a domestic disturbance call. A Sheriff's deputy and his dog were wounded as they arrived to help. Sgt. Lee Sorensen,
56, and Officer Eric Estrada, 31, are being mourned as heroes by their colleagues. The shooter was convinced by neighbors to put
down his gun. He was arrested.
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“It’s not supported by any evidence or statistics whatsoever." As President of the African American Mayors Association,
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson is in an excellent position to assess whether crime is "running rampant" in American cities. In his
view, and those of his colleagues, the opposite is true. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson points to “historic progress," with
murders in his city plunging "more than 30% and shootings by almost 40% in the last year alone.” Ditto Baltimore, where Mayor
Brandon Johnson credits community intervention programs and other social measures for a "historic decrease" in homicide.
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8/18/25 An L.A.-area man charged with killing a pedestrian in a fatal June hit-and-run won't be
arraigned until October. He's meanwhile free on $50,000 bail. In addition to felony vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run,
Davontay Robins, 30, faces charges of driving with a license that had been suspended over a D.U.I.
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In 2008 L.A. Sheriff's
Deputy Juan Abel Escalante was murdered by members of the Avenues street gang as he readied to go to work. Four of the six gang
members reportedly involved were arrested and charged four years later. A fifth, Roberto Salazar, is one of 26 alleged drug cartel
members whom Mexico just turned over to the U.S. Mexico does not have capital punishment, so neither Salazar nor any of the others
will face the death penalty.
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A resident of a D.C. Ward
that's beset by murders bristled at President Trump's recent characterization of the capital city as being “dirty,”
“disgusting,” and threatened by “roving mobs of wild youth.” Le’Greg Harrison nonetheless supports more policing, as long as it's
not focused on race. Another resident, 38-year old Gerald Walker, would welcome in the Feds. But many locals fear that the
Government's true, underlying purpose is to gentrify and kick them out.
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Three men, ages 19-35, were killed and
nine persons were wounded during an early-morning shooting in a Brooklyn, NY bar. An argument preceded the gunfire, and police
characterized the incident as gang-related. Forty-two 9mm. and .45 caliber shell casings were recovered, and several suspects are
being sought. Community crisis intervention teams have been sent in to tone things down.
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8/15/25 Located
in Northern New Mexico, Rio Arriba county is reportedly beset by drug trafficking, opiod abuse and violence. So much so, that
Governor Michelle Grisham just declared a state of emergency in the area, and is pouring in money to help police and tribal
governments pay for overtime and such. It follows on her recent declaration of a state of emergency in Albuquerque, the state's
capital city, where a "significant increase" in crime led the Guv to call in the National Guard.
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The Federal law enforcement
presence in D.C. isn't just about violent crime. ICE has also moved in and partnered with police. Shedding the city's image as
a "sanctuary" for illegal immigrants, D.C. Police Chief Pamela A. Smith has ordered that officers inform ICE of possible illegal
immigrants they learn about or encounter, including at traffic stops, and help ICE secure and transport persons detained for
immigration violations. President Trump is pleased. “That’s a great step that they are doing that,” he said. Related posts
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8/14/25 Three recent pursuits by Milwaukee police of reportedly reckless motorists ended
in tragedy. In each, the person being chased lost control and wrecked their vehicle. Two innocent bystanders were killed. One of the
fleeing drivers also lost his life. Official policy allows pursuits of violent felons and, per a 2017 "relaxation" of the rules,
reckless drivers. Mayor Cavalier Johnson defends the agency's practices. As does the police chief: "The police have a
responsibility to take people off the streets who are going to hurt other folks, and that's exactly what they're doing in their
job."
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Just-released officer bodycam videos of the
2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas are replete with demands by anguished parents who have assembled outside
the school and want officers to rush in and confront the shooter. “Whose class is he in?”. “Come on man, my daughter is in
there!” “Either you go in or I’m going in bro...My kids are in there, bro. … Please!.” Their comments are echoed by several
officers, who also demand fast action. But a team wouldn't go after Salvador Ramos for an hour.
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8/13/25 A new book
by Jens Ludwig, the director of U of Chicago's crime lab, posits that the origins of gun violence lie neither in the "bad
character" of individuals nor in the economic deprivation of where they live. "Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of
American Gun Violence" argues that violence is rooted in the fact that most persons rely on a decision-making process that's
primarily intuitive and emotional, and that its output is nearly always "instantaneous." And when there's a gun at hand, the
consequences are grim, indeed.
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