The Weekly Briefing 🇺🇸
Three Officers Killed in Ambush
Three officers with the Northern York County Regional Police were gunned down Wednesday in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, during what officials called a “brutal ambush,” CNN reported. Police say 24-year-old Matthew Ruth, armed with an AR-15 rifle, opened fire as officers entered his ex-girlfriend’s farmhouse to serve an arrest warrant. Sgt. Cody Becker, Detective Mark Baker, and Detective Isaiah Emenheiser were killed, while two other officers were wounded in the barrage of gunfire. Ruth, who had been stalking the woman for weeks, was later shot and killed at the scene.
Investigators said Ruth had carefully surveilled the property and even killed the family’s dog before the attack. More than 30 rounds were fired as the quiet farm community turned into what neighbors described as “a war zone.” Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris pledged a full investigation, adding, “The grief will be unbearable, but we will bear it.” 💙🖤💙 More here
Cocaine’s Comeback
The Wall Street Journal reports that Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera and his Jalisco New Generation Cartel have overtaken Sinaloa as Mexico’s most powerful trafficking organization, capitalizing on America’s resurging appetite for cocaine and the Trump administration’s fentanyl crackdown. With use up 154% in the western U.S. since 2019, CJNG is moving tons of cocaine via speedboats, narco-subs, and Sinaloa-built tunnels after striking an unprecedented deal with the Chapitos. Protected in a mountain fortress with a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head, Oseguera now sits atop a cartel empire rivaling El Chapo’s at its peak. 🇲🇽 More here
Traffic Deaths Falling
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports in its Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First Half of 2025 that 17,140 people died in crashes from January–June 2025, an 8.2% drop from 18,680 a year earlier, even as vehicle miles traveled rose by 0.8% (+12.1 billion miles). The fatality rate declined to 1.06 per 100 million VMT, down from 1.16, marking the 13th consecutive quarterly decline since mid-2022. All 10 NHTSA regions recorded decreases, with 38 states plus D.C. and Puerto Rico down (notably Connecticut −32.5%, Maryland −23.5%, Mississippi −25.7%), while 11 states saw increases. The agency emphasized that the figures are preliminary and will be updated with final FARS data. 📊 Report here
Rising Threats: Schools and Politics
NPR reports that the country is confronting parallel crises — a rise in politically motivated attacks like the assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah, and a surge in school shootings, such as the recent incident in Colorado that critically wounded two students. Researchers say mass shootings remain a small share of gun deaths, but their frequency has climbed in recent decades, with school-related incidents reaching record levels since the pandemic. At the same time, experts warn that political violence is increasingly mainstreamed into public life. “Just in the last 12 months we’ve seen terrible, terrible examples of political violence,” said Joshua Horwitz of Johns Hopkins, noting that both trends reflect deeper instability straining communities and law enforcement across the country. 📈 More here
‘It’s Scary for Us’
International concern over U.S. gun violence is beginning to ripple into tourism. USA TODAY reports that some former residents and international travelers are avoiding or shortening visits to the United States, citing mass shootings and permissive gun laws. Canada, Australia, and the U.K. have all issued travel advisories warning of the risks, and tourism forecasts have shifted from expected growth to an 8.2% decline this year. A Canadian couple who canceled a U.S. trip after the Charlie Kirk assassination and a Colorado school shooting told the outlet, “It’s scary for us.” Data shows 302 mass shootings have already occurred in 2025, and a University of Washington study found America’s firearm homicide rate is more than seven times higher than Canada’s. 🌎 More here
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Former Police Explorer Killed
NBC News reports that Sandra Birchmore, a 23-year-old who once admired law enforcement, was found dead in 2021 in what was initially ruled a suicide but is now alleged to have been a staged killing by former Stoughton detective Matthew Farwell. Federal prosecutors say Farwell groomed and abused Birchmore for years before strangling her after she became pregnant, while two other former officers — his twin brother William and ex-deputy chief Robert Devine — were accused of inappropriate relationships with her but not charged. Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara has apologized for the department’s failure and called for all three to be permanently decertified, saying Birchmore was “dehumanized” and “treated horrifically” by men who were supposed to protect her. 🔗 More here
“Be in the job to do the job — not keep the job.” — Chief Katherine Lester
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🔥 This week: Tampa Chief Lee Bercaw
‘Al Capone Approach’ Purge
The Metropolitan Police has removed more than 1,400 officers since 2022 in its largest clear-out to date, with leaders comparing the effort to the FBI’s famous prosecution of Al Capone. Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes said the goal is to quickly exit officers who fall short of standards while continuing to pursue serious misconduct cases. Critics, including the Metropolitan Police Federation, objected to likening colleagues to gangsters, but Jukes argued the strategy is necessary to restore trust after scandals including the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer. The BBC notes that separate probes have already led to suspensions at Charing Cross custody suite and charges against a detective inspector in north-west London. 🇬🇧 More here
Memphis Safe Task Force
Wrong-Way Detection Systems
Central Florida has added dozens of wrong-way vehicle detection devices on highway ramps to improve safety on major routes. The systems have flagged more than 2,400 wrong-way drivers in the past decade, with over 2,100 turning around before reaching main traffic. “Eighty-eight percent of folks that were detected going down the wrong way turned around. So that’s pretty good, but we’re aiming for 100%,” said Brian Hutchings of the Central Florida Expressway Authority. At least 66 sites are now active, with more on the way. 🛑 More here
Texas DPS Trooper Killed
KVEO-TV reports that Trooper Jerry Wayne Adamick Jr., 44, was killed while responding to an emergency call in San Jacinto County when his vehicle left the roadway, struck a tree, and caught fire. Adamick, a U.S. Army veteran who served more than two decades before joining the Texas Department of Public Safety in 2024, is survived by his wife and five adult children. DPS Colonel Freeman F. Martin said, “Our hearts are broken today… he had so much life ahead of him, and today we grieve with his family and friends.” 💙🖤💙 More here
UK Police Push Back
A video shared millions of times online claimed West Midlands officers tried to seize a teenager’s phone after she viewed a social media post. Police say that account is false and the footage was “heavily edited.” According to a statement, the visit was part of an investigation into a fake account used to send indecent messages, not simply viewing content. The Newsweek report notes that legal experts are watching closely amid concerns about policing online activity under the UK’s new Online Safety Act. 📱 More here
Chief One of Most Influential
Fairfax County (VA) Chief Kevin Davis, a fourth-generation public safety leader, has been named one of the most influential people in Northern Virginia. Davis has led Virginia’s largest police agency since 2021. Under his command, the FCPD launched a Real Time Crime Center to solve cases faster and ran Operation Press Check to remove illegal firearms. Chief Davis has been instrumental in the Weekly Briefing and was the first guest on the Briefing Room podcast. 📰 here. 📺 below👇
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