The Weekly Briefing 🇺🇸
City at Tipping Point
The deployment of 3,000 federal agents into Minneapolis has created an unprecedented standoff between the Trump administration’s immigration initiatives and local city leadership. According to 60 Minutes (60 Minutes), federal officials characterize “Operation Metro Surge” as a series of targeted actions designed to remove violent offenders and restore order. However, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara warned that the scale of the deployment—now five times larger than the city’s own police force—has pushed the city to a point where “it all explodes,” complicating local efforts to maintain public safety. While ICE leadership defends the professionalism of agents who have faced a massive surge in assaults, the friction has shifted into the legal arena, with the Justice Department now investigating whether local officials have engaged in criminal interference with federal law enforcement duties. (Click on video)
Overdose Deaths Drop
U.S. overdose deaths experienced a sustained decline throughout most of 2025, marking the longest downward trend in decades as the national crisis shows signs of lasting improvement. According to the Associated Press, an estimated 73,000 people died in the 12-month period ending in August 2025, a significant 21% drop compared to the 92,000 deaths recorded in the previous year. While deaths fell in 45 states, researchers are currently debating the drivers behind the improvement, with prominent theories pointing to a reduction in fentanyl potency following Chinese regulatory crackdowns on precursor chemicals and the end of pandemic-era stimulus payments. Despite the encouraging 27% “plummet” in deaths since their 2022 peak, experts caution that the monthly toll remains higher than pre-pandemic levels and that recent policy shifts, including the cancellation of federal mental health and addiction grants, could impact future momentum. 📉 More here
DHS Drone Shield
The Department of Homeland Security is launching a new counter-drone office backed by a $115 million investment to secure upcoming high-profile national events. According to The Hill, the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems will deploy advanced technology to protect the 2026 FIFA World Cup and various celebrations for the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem characterized drones as the “new frontier of American air superiority,” noting the technology will also be utilized to protect the country from drug cartels. This initiative comes as federal leadership prepares for more aggressive land-based strikes against cartels, prioritizing the safety of millions of visitors expected for the World Cup matches hosted across 12 major U.S. cities. 🛡️ More here
Austin Police Avert Tragedy
Austin police officers successfully neutralized an armed threat in the downtown area, taking a suspect into custody without discharging their firearms. According to the “Chief’s Badge of Honor” series, officers responded to reports of a man brandishing a handgun. Using a combination of real-time camera surveillance and field coordination, they located the suspect. When Jones ignored repeated commands to drop the weapon, an officer made a split-second decision to transition to his TASER 10, safely incapacitating the suspect and recovering the firearm. This coordinated response has been highlighted by the department as a textbook example of de-escalation training and effective teamwork in high-stress, dangerous encounters.
McManus to Retire
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus announced he will retire by September 2026, concluding nearly two decades at the helm and marking the longest tenure in the city’s history. Over a law enforcement career spanning more than 50 years, McManus led departments in Minneapolis and Dayton after rising through the ranks of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department. San Antonio officials and the local police union credited his “steady leadership” with driving down crime rates and fostering unprecedented levels of communication and community trust. McManus, who briefly retired once before in 2014, will remain in his post through the fall to oversee a smooth transition for the department. 🫡 More here
Catch Up on Podcasts….
Chief Tapped for COS
Indianapolis Police Chief Chris Bailey has been appointed as Mayor Joe Hogsett’s new Chief of Staff, transitioning from law enforcement to one of the most powerful administrative roles in city government. According to the Indianapolis Star, Bailey is credited with overseeing a significant decline in violence, including a drop in murders from 166 in 2024 to 133 in 2025. A veteran of the force since 1999, Bailey previously served in various leadership capacities and briefly headed the Asheville Police Department before returning to Indianapolis. His appointment comes at a critical time for the administration as it navigates a transition following the departure of the previous chief of staff and an ongoing grand jury investigation into prior city development deals and staff conduct. 👮♂️ More here
From Novelist to Chief
Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile retired last week, concluding a 40-year career that began not as a lifelong ambition, but as a literary experiment to gather material for police novels. According to Police1, the English literature graduate originally joined the force in 1985 to gain authentic experiences for his writing, but he eventually “flipped a switch” and committed to the profession. Over four decades, he rose to the department’s highest rank, where he prioritized officer wellness and community-based foot patrols to curb gun violence. Having successfully led the agency through a period of historic crime declines and staffing challenges, Cecile plans to spend his retirement finally writing the chapters he spent forty years researching. 📚 More here
Remarkable Clearance Rate
The Columbus Division of Police achieved a remarkable 83% homicide clearance rate in 2025, significantly outperforming the national average. According to NBC4 , the department successfully solved 70 out of 84 homicide cases last year while also closing 30 cases from 2024 and 12 cold cases dating back to 2000. Chief Elaine Bryant and other police leaders credited the success to a combination of modern investigative genetic genealogy, a dedicated non-fatal shooting team, and a surge in community cooperation through tips and video evidence. This high-performing investigative streak underscores the department’s commitment to accountability and providing closure for families, even in cases that have remained cold for over two decades. More here
Denver Homicides Down
Denver recorded a dramatic 48% decrease in homicides in 2025, reaching its lowest total in decades. According to CBS Colorado, the city reported 37 homicides last year compared to 70 in 2024, representing the lowest tally since 1990. Police Chief Ron Thomas attributed this success to a proactive model that combines rapid officer response and life-saving medical intervention with targeted infrastructure investments like improved lighting and safer community spaces. While law enforcement partnered with local foundations to provide youth outreach and “peace walks,” the department is now shifting resources to address a separate rise in fatal traffic crashes to ensure broader public safety in 2026. 📉 More here
Court Weighs Geofence Warrants
The Supreme Court has agreed to rule on the constitutionality of “geofence warrants,” a digital investigative tool used by law enforcement to identify every cellphone user near a crime scene. According to the Associated Press, the case stems from a 2019 Virginia bank robbery where police used Google location data to identify and convict a suspect. While defense attorneys argue these broad warrants violate Fourth Amendment privacy rights by sweeping up data on innocent bystanders, prosecutors contend that users voluntarily opt into location tracking. With federal appeals courts currently split on whether this practice constitutes an unreasonable search, the upcoming Supreme Court decision will establish a critical national standard for balancing modern digital surveillance with constitutional privacy protections. ⚖️ More here
Debunking Claim
The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) has released video footage to counter social media rumors alleging a trooper struck a protester in Memphis. The agency stated that the recording clearly shows the individual intentionally holding onto the front of a patrol car and lying down in front of it. According to the THP, the video captures the person then standing back up and leaving the area under his own power without being run over or injured. (Click on video)
Conference Registration Open
Registration is now open for the 10th Annual American Society of Evidence-Based Policing Conference in Washington, D.C. This important event brings together law enforcement professionals and researchers to share data-driven strategies for modern policing.
May 20–22, 2026
American University, Washington, D.C.
We will miss Chief Bailey at the helm of IMPD. He is the epitome of the Servant Leader. Best wishes to him in his new role!