Baltimore to Use $1M in Grant Funding for 911 Diversion Program
Baltimore will use a $1.03 million federal grant to broaden its 911 diversion program, extending services beyond behavioral‑health emergencies to a wider range of non‑violent calls. The funding, secured by Rep. Kweisi Mfume, builds on a program launched in 2021 under a DOJ consent decree that originally routed suicidal calls to mental‑health professionals. City officials say the expansion will provide better support for residents in crisis and alleviate pressure on police officers. The move positions Baltimore as a potential national model for trauma‑informed public safety.
Conn. Officials Pause Statewide LE Usage of AI Report-Writing Software
Connecticut prosecutors and police chiefs have placed a statewide moratorium on AI‑powered police report‑writing tools, pausing their use until thorough testing and clear rules are established. The move follows high‑profile AI errors, such as a Utah body‑cam incident that generated...
'Deputy Dale' Joins Ill. Sheriff's Office as Therapy Dog
Deputy Dale, a 4‑year‑old poodle mix, became the first therapy dog for the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office in December 2023 after being trained by inmates in a Florida shelter program that charges no fees to agencies. The dog now works with...
Ala. City Hires Recruitment Firm to Help Fill PD Ranks
The Huntsville City Council approved a $122,000 contract with Crimson Recruiting Services to overhaul police recruitment. The department needs to fill roughly 75 vacancies and currently struggles to meet academy class targets, selecting only 10‑20 qualified candidates from hundreds of...
Autura and YASSI Partner to Modernize Towing Lien Processing Nationwide
Autura, a towing‑management software provider, announced a partnership with YASSI to embed YASSI’s DMV registration and NMVTIS lookup APIs into its TowLien lien‑processing platform. The integration delivers real‑time, normalized vehicle‑owner data, reducing lookup times, manual data entry, and per‑transaction costs...
Colo. Bans Arrests Based Solely on Colorimetric Drug Tests
Colorado enacted a law prohibiting arrests based solely on colorimetric drug test results for misdemeanor possession. Officers must now issue a court summons and inform defendants of false‑positive risks, offering confirmatory testing before any plea. The legislation passed unanimously and...
Wis. Sheriff Sues Woman, Alleging She Falsely Claimed to Be Detained by ICE in His Jail
Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt filed a federal civil suit seeking $1 million in damages from Summer Sundas “Sunny” Naqvi, Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison and ten unidentified John Does. Schmidt alleges the plaintiffs fabricated claims that Naqvi was illegally detained...
Ga. Sheriff's Office Preps for World Cup Matches with Help From $12M in Federal Grant Funding
Cobb County Sheriff’s Office is deploying over $12 million in federal grant money to secure World Cup activities in the Atlanta metro area. The Department of Homeland Security awarded a $10.67 million counter‑drone grant, while the FIFA World Cup Grant Program added...
Mass. Unions Pass Vote of No Confidence in PD Chief Following Kelsey Fitzsimmons Case
Two North Andover police unions voted no confidence in Chief Charles Gray, with more than 90% of members supporting the motion. The unions cited the recent not‑guilty verdict in Officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons’ assault trial, which they say was hampered by...
Calif. City Allocates 50 Units in New High-Rise Apartment Building as Affordable Housing for Police Officers
The San Jose City Council approved reserving 50 below‑market apartments in the downtown Fay high‑rise for police officers and their families. The city’s affordable‑housing voucher program will allocate up to $11.2 million to subsidize these units. The decision follows an earlier...
Sensitive LAPD Materials, Including Officer Personnel Files, Leaked in Suspected Hack
A suspected hack of the Los Angeles city attorney’s office exposed a massive trove of LAPD records, including officer personnel files and Internal Affairs investigation documents. Approximately 7.7 terabytes of data and more than 337,000 files were made available for download,...
Seattle Officers File Lawsuit Against PD Leaders over Alleged Carbon Monoxide Exposure
Seattle police officers have filed a class‑action lawsuit alleging that inadequate ventilation in the West Precinct’s underground garage and adjoining workspaces exposed them to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and other exhaust fumes. The complaint says the department knew of...
Mass. PD to Add Body Cameras After Kelsey Fitzsimmons's Acquittal
North Andover Police Department announced it will roll out body‑worn cameras after former officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons was acquitted of assault, a case hinging on the lack of video evidence. Police Chief Charles Grey cited startup and maintenance costs as the...
4 Wash. Sheriffs Sue Governor Who Signed Law Giving Oversight Board Power to Remove Sheriffs
Four Washington sheriffs have filed a lawsuit against Governor Bob Ferguson, challenging a newly‑signed law that empowers the state Criminal Justice Training Commission to remove elected sheriffs based on certification standards. The legislation requires five years of law‑enforcement experience, a...
'It's Good Policing': Ill. PD Emphasizes Initiative to Hire More Women as Officers
Bloomington‑Normal police departments are joining the 30X30 initiative to raise female representation to 30 % by 2030, up from the current 12 % in Normal and 5 % in Bloomington. Research cited by officials shows women officers use less force and attract fewer...