Free Republic

Probably a training exercise but interesting.

As a former policeman, I know America’s law enforcement officers have hard jobs. They make tough decisions in high-pressure situations, sometimes with life and death consequences. We need to ensure they’re well trained, trustworthy, and of sound character. We also need laws and rules of conduct that encourage the best outcomes, and we can’t ask them to do the impossible. Now is the right time to re-examine whether we’re accomplishing this.When I left field and orchard work at the age of 19, I was fortunately entrusted with helping to guarantee public safety — first as a radio dispatcher and later...

A couple in Martinez, California, peacefully painted over the city-sanctioned giant yellow “Black Lives Matter” lettering in the middle of the road on the Fourth of July. Police are now looking for the couple, likely harder than they are searching for the terrorists who ripped down statues, looted shops, and destroyed large chunks of cities across the nation.

Toledo Police Officer Anthony Dia was murdered on Independence Day morning while responding to a call in a Home Depot parking lot.

While defunding the police has become the cause du jour for the City Council, they have approved funds to provide personal security for members of the Council. Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins defended the seemingly contradictory actions by insisting "there is a difference between making sure those governing the city are kept safe from harm and needlessly squandering scarce resources to fund police protection for the general public. Unlike the common people, Council members are essential to the smooth operation of the government. There are only eight of us. None can be spared. There are more than 400,000 residents of...

Atlanta protesters vandalized the Georgia State Patrol headquarters early Sunday, spraying graffiti and sparking a fire inside the building with fireworks, the agency said. As many as 100 people, many dressed in black and wearing masks, marched outside the building at around 1 a.m., the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) said in an emailed statement. The agency described the group as protesters, who carried rocks, fireworks, and spray paint. Video footage from the scene shows a group of several dozen people outside the building and the sound of drums beating in the background. Several fireworks are set off. A loud bang...

A Tulsa police sergeant died Tuesday after being shot multiple times during a traffic stop. Sgt. Craig Johnson, 45, came to provide backup assistance to another officer who pulled over David Anthony Ware, 33, for an expired paper license. The suspect would not get out of the vehicle when officers said it would have to be towed, and that's when things escalated. Despite Johnson trying to use nonlethal force—the suspect pulled a gun on him and another officer.

For the second time in less than 24 hours, Portland Police declared a downtown demonstration a riot during Fourth of July protests. Mayor Ted Wheeler expressed concerns about Portland being “on edge,” heading into Fourth of July weekend. A riot was declared around 4 a.m. Saturday in downtown Portland after overnight demonstrations, but events through the day remained generally peaceful until late Saturday, when police again declared a riot.

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - An officer with the Toledo Police Department has been shot and killed in the line of duty, according to Toledo Police Chief George Kral. The officer has been identified as 26-year-old Officer Anthony Dia. The incident occurred just after midnight on Saturday when police responded to a disturbance at the Home Depot on West Alexis near Lewis. According to police, Officer Dia was dispatched to check the well being of a man who reportedly seemed intoxicated. Witnesses told police the suspect turned and fired at Officer Dia, who was reportedly able to return fire before he...

olice have branded a group of people attending an illegal block party in west London as 'disgusting inhuman thugs' after officers had bottles thrown at them and were threatened with a knife. Officers came under attack with bottles after they tried to clear a 'block party' in Havelock Close, White City. Taking to Twitter, the Southall Broadway Police account said: 'The team and @MPSDormers Wells were amongst these front line officers coming under attack from missiles as well as thugs trying to fight, one even brandishing a knife at us. 'Unfortunately some of us were injured during this incident. Disgusting...

Video at link.

BALTIMORE (WBFF) -- There's new scrutiny over the role of law enforcement inside local schools and it comes as districts across the country begin canceling contracts with police. It follows the death of George Floyd and nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice with calls to defund or dismantle police departments. In Maryland, both Prince George's & Montgomery Counties have begun talks to remove armed officers from schools but both districts have tabled any final decisions until the fall. "This movement is a knee-jerk reaction to the situation Minneapolis," said Jason Neidig, a school resource officer at Aberdeen Middle...

CARLSBAD, N.M. - Recently released videos from a body-camera worn by a National Park Ranger at Carlsbad Caverns National Park reveals the park visitor who he tased, then shot and killed did not provoke the use of force and was unarmed. Charles “Gage” Lorentz was traveling from his work site in Pecos, Texas on March 21. 2020 intending to head to his family’s home in Southwest Colorado. A report from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Department noted that he detoured at Carlsbad Caverns National Park to meet a friend. The report states National Park Ranger Robert Mitchell stopped him for speeding...

Democrats in the Virginia Senate proposed downgrading the charge for assaulting an officer from a felony to a misdemeanor. The Senate Democrats released a plan to address police brutality and racial injustice in response to nationwide protests. The proposal includes several changes to policy regarding policing, including changes to the crime of assaulting an officer. “Our constituents want change,” said state Sen. Mamie Locke, chairwoman of the state Senate Democratic Caucus. “We hear that loud and clear from them. They want policy change. They’re pretty much done with thoughts and prayers. They’re done with ‘one more discussion’ and hearing us say we’ll get it...

os Angeles School Police Chief Todd Chamberlain resigned following a decision by the school board to cut millions in funding and remove officers from campuses. Chamberlain, who stepped into the job just last year, turned in his resignation on Wednesday, according to district spokeswoman Shannon Haber, the Los Angeles Times reported. With over 35 years in law enforcement, Chamberlain made the decision one day after the school board gave in to what he called a “potentially life-threatening” choice to cut the school police budget by $25 million....Los Angeles school police chief releases powerful resignation statement after board slashes funding July...

As Portland protests enter their fifth week Wednesday, the state speaker of the House sent a sharp letter to Mayor Ted Wheeler over police use of force the previous night, saying police were escalating tensions with their tactics. Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, call police actions in her district Tuesday “completely unacceptable.” Officers used tear gas and other force to disperse protesters near the Portland Police Association headquarters in North Portland. “From the reports I’ve read and from what I’ve heard from neighbors - counter to what the PPB is officially saying - there was no risk to the...

With protesters descending on the Hamptons this summer, rich New Yorkers with second homes on the East End are looking for more protection than just their hedges. Wealthy Hamptonites are rushing to hire security guards to keep them safe from the threat of unrest, The Post has learned. Charlie McArdle, co-founder of CM Security Consulting, says business is booming in the moneyed enclave, and that he’s gotten a flood of calls after Thursday’s protests, which targeted the Hamptons homes of figures such as Mayor Mike Bloomberg, real estate mogul Stephen Ross and Blackstone CEO Steven Schwarzman.

Paul wrote earlier about the Minneapolis Effect. For those of us living in Minnesota, the effect is very real. But the Minnesota right is fighting back. My organization, Center of the American Experiment, has sponsored a poll that finds, among other things, that 85% of Minnesotans support law enforcement. We will soon begin a campaign to mobilize support behind law enforcement, including 38 billboards, radio ads, a social media campaign, a live webinar featuring Heather Mac Donald that we will be announcing soon, and more.

Mayor Eric Garcetti said that Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers who felt demoralized by recent protests and budget cuts should take heart and “remember why they became police officers.” Garcetti was speaking after numerous reports of “record low” morale in the LAPD, after the Black Lives Matter riots led the mayor to announce $150 million in cuts to the department, which became official on Monday. Garcetti is also feuding with the local police union, which took offense last month when the mayor referred to police (in general) as “killers.” LAPD officers also learned that they would to be paid...