The Weekly Briefing 🇺🇸
Fear Not, Do Right
Sheriff Mark Lamb joins The Briefing Room for a candid discussion on border security and immigration enforcement. Sheriff Lamb provides an inside look at cartel-operated drones. We discuss his firsthand reflections on the humanitarian crises tied to trafficking and his leadership philosophy: Fear Not, Do Right. We also discusses jail programs for veterans, women, and at-risk youth.
Sovereign Citizen Violence Spreads
A rare police shooting in Victoria, Australia, has drawn national attention to the rise of the U.S.-born “sovereign citizen” movement abroad. Authorities say Desmond “Dezi” Freeman killed two officers serving a warrant, sparking a massive manhunt in rugged bushland. Once dismissed as eccentric “paper terrorists” using pseudo-law to fight traffic tickets and taxes, the movement has grown more dangerous, fueled by pandemic-era distrust, rising living costs, and imported conspiracy theories. Experts estimate up to 2,000 Australians now identify as sovereign citizens, with many emboldened by online training and U.S. influence. Researchers warn that while most adherents won’t turn violent, police face heightened risks in encounters, and authorities are reassessing strategies to counter anti-government extremism (CNN, Hilary Whiteman). 🦘 More here
Officer Killed in Pursuit
Kansas City, Kansas, Police Officer Hunter Simoncic, 26, was killed during a vehicle pursuit when authorities say a fleeing suspect intentionally struck him. Simoncic was deploying stop sticks around 12:30 a.m. when Dennis Mitchell III, 31, drove directly at the officer, hit him, and continued to flee. Simoncic was transported to the hospital but did not survive. Mitchell later crashed, was taken into custody, and now faces charges including first-degree murder, vehicular homicide, fleeing police, theft, and weapons offenses. Police said both vehicles Mitchell drove had been stolen. Chief Karl Oakman called the act “an intentional homicide,” stressing that deploying stop sticks is a routine tactic carried out “thousands of times a year” without incident. Simoncic, is survived by his parents and brother (ABC News, Meredith Deliso). 💙🖤 More here
Officer Fends Off Violent Attack
Perception of Crime a Major Problem
A new AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds that Americans overwhelmingly see crime as a serious problem—especially in large cities — despite data showing otherwise. Two-thirds of respondents said crime is a major issue nationally, and 81% said it is a major concern in cities. Strikingly, that view spans the political spectrum: 96% of Republicans and 68% of Democrats consider crime in big cities a major problem. The poll also shows Americans favor targeted support—55% say it’s acceptable for the U.S. military or National Guard to assist local police in large cities—but just one-third back the idea of a federal takeover of city police departments. The issue is proving relatively strong for the White House: 53% approve of President Trump’s handling of crime, a higher rating than his overall job performance (AP-NORC, August 2025). 🚨 More here
CHP Deployed to Cities
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has deployed the California Highway Patrol to major cities—including Los Angeles, San Diego, Oakland, and San Francisco Bay Area—to target auto theft, drug dealing, and other street crime. The move comes as President Trump has threatened further federal troop deployments to San Francisco and other blue cities, framing it as a “cleanup” effort. Newsom emphasized that his strategy differs sharply from Washington’s, stressing cooperation with local governments rather than federal overreach. He accused Trump of “de facto militarizing American cities” by using the National Guard and ICE as unilateral enforcement tools. California has also sued the federal government over troop deployments in Los Angeles. (Politico, Blake Jones). 🚓 More here
Unprecedented Cybercrime Spree
Anthropic, the company behind the Claude chatbot, disclosed that a hacker used its AI to automate nearly every stage of a cyber extortion campaign against at least 17 companies. The attacker leveraged “Claude Code” to identify vulnerable firms, create malware, organize stolen files, and even draft extortion emails and ransom demands ranging from $75,000 to $500,000. Victims included a defense contractor, a financial institution, and multiple health care providers, with stolen data spanning Social Security numbers, bank details, and sensitive defense files regulated by the U.S. State Department. While Anthropic implemented new safeguards, the company warned this model of AI-driven cybercrime will likely grow as artificial intelligence lowers barriers to sophisticated operations (NBC News, Kevin Collier). 🧑🏻💻 More here
That Will Definitely End Pursuit
Preventing Restraint-Related Deaths
The Wichita Police Department is putting the Police Executive Research Forum’s 15 Principles for Reducing the Risk of Restraint-Related Death into practice. Chief Joe Sullivan and Captain Jason Bartel have overhauled policies, launched work groups, and built scenario-based trainings that bring officers, EMS, and dispatchers together. The goal is to prevent tragedies that claim an average of 100 lives annually in custody situations nationwide. Wichita has gone beyond updating policy—creating training videos, embedding lessons into ICAT instruction, and emphasizing recognition of medical-behavioral emergencies. Chief Sullivan reinforces these principles by personally recognizing officers who use de-escalation and by highlighting those successes publicly. (PERF, August 2025). 📉 More here
E-Bikes, Scooters, & Traffic Safety
American cities are grappling with a surge of two-wheeled vehicles—from e-bikes and scooters to mopeds and minibikes—that blur the line between bicycles and motorcycles. Some models can hit 40–60 mph, crowding bike lanes and raising safety concerns for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. Experts say micromobility is booming: McKinsey projects global sales will more than double to $340 billion by 2030, with nearly half of consumers open to replacing cars. Yet U.S. infrastructure and enforcement lag, with inconsistent rules on speed limits, age, and where devices can operate. Cities like Austin and New York are debating how to separate slower bikes from faster scooters, while Amsterdam is testing regulations that push high-speed two-wheelers into car lanes with reduced speed limits. (Wall Street Journal, Jeff Bailey). 🛵 More here
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