The Weekly Briefing đşđ¸
Passing the Baton
In this episode of The Briefing Room, I sit down with Utah Highway Patrol Colonel Michael Rapich before his retirement last week for a wide-ranging conversation about his 33-year career in law enforcement. Colonel Rapich reflects on the evolving threat environment facing public officials, how technology and data are reshaping highway safety, and what it takes to lead a statewide public-safety agency through rapid change. He also shares personal insights on knowing when itâs time to pass the baton and the legacy of service inspired by his father.
Perception of Crime Improves
Gallupâs latest annual crime survey shows Americans view national crime as less serious for the second year in a row, with fewer than half (49%) calling it an âextremelyâ or âveryâ serious problem. Fear of crime is easing too â only 31% say theyâre afraid to walk alone at night, down from 40% in 2023. The share who believe crime increased last year dropped 15 points, reaching its lowest level since 2018. Gallup notes this shift reflects a broader return to early-2000s optimism, supported by FBI data showing a 4.5% national crime decrease in 2024. đ More here
Murders Fall, Shoplifting Surges
According to MyLondon, the number of homicides in the London fell slightly last year to 101, down from 107 the year before, while nationwide totals across England and Wales dropped 6% to 518âthe lowest since records began in 2002. The Home Office data offer what Victim Support called a âglimmer of hopeâ in a crime category that causes âprofound and long-lasting trauma.â Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones credited government initiatives for driving homicide and knife crime down to their lowest levels in decades but warned that âany life lost is one too many.â At the same time, shoplifting spiked sharply, with the Metropolitan Police recording nearly 95,000 offensesâup 38% from last yearâas retailers urged tougher enforcement. đ More here
NYPDâs Global Liaison Program
According to The New York Post, the NYPDâs International Liaison Programâcreated after 9/11 to share intelligence and monitor global threatsâcontinues to evolve as the department recalled veteran Detective Charlie Benaim from his 18-year post in Israel. The program, funded by the New York City Police Foundation, places officers in cities around the world to gather intelligence, coordinate with foreign agencies, and spot emerging trends before they reach New York. It currently operates 18 officers in 14 locations, including London, Paris, Jordan, and the Netherlands. NYPD leaders recently announced plans to expand to Tucson and BogotĂĄ to address cross-border drug and weapons trafficking tied to migration flows. As Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner said, âWeâre not going to wait for the problem to come to usâitâs our job to protect our city.â đ More here
âIntentionalâ Explosion at Harvard
According to The New York Times, local and federal authorities are investigating an early-morning explosion inside Harvard Medical Schoolâs Goldenson building in Boston, which officials have deemed âintentional.â The incident occurred around 2:48 a.m. Saturday after a fire alarm was triggered, prompting a Harvard police officer to respond. Two masked individuals were seen fleeing the sceneâone wearing khaki pants and a brown âNYCâ hoodie, the other in plaid pajama pants and a dark sweatshirt. No injuries were reported, and the Boston Fire Departmentâs arson unit confirmed the blast was deliberate. The FBIâs Boston Field Office is assisting in what it called a âvery activeâ investigation. Parts of the historic 1906 building remain closed as authorities continue their search for suspects. đ More here
FBI Thwarts Alleged Plot
According to CNN, federal agents arrested two people and detained three others in Dearborn, Michigan, after uncovering what FBI Director Kash Patel described as a âpotential terrorist attackâ planned for Halloween weekend. The suspects, aged between their teens and 20s, were allegedly communicating in online chatrooms about an ISIS-inspired plot and practicing âhigh-speed reloadsâ with AK-47s at a local range. Patel said the FBIâs Detroit field office executed search warrants and seized phones, computers, and other materials as part of the operation. While the investigation is ongoing, officials emphasized there is no current threat to public safety. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer praised federal and state authorities for âswift action protecting Michiganders,â while one defense attorney cautioned against âharmful rhetoricâ toward Dearbornâs Arab and Muslim communities. đ More here
Victim of Hollywood Producer
According to KTLA, La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven, 25, who was killed last month by a suspected drunk driver while assisting at a freeway crash, was previously one of the victims of disgraced Hollywood producer David Pearce â convicted of multiple rapes and the murders of two women. Craven was a Loyola Marymount University student when Pearce assaulted her in 2020, before later fulfilling her dream of becoming a police officer in 2024. On October 20, while responding to an overturned vehicle on I-8 near San Diego, she was struck and killed by a driver now facing DUI charges. Thousands of officers joined a procession honoring Cravenâs service, which Governor Gavin Newsom praised as marked by âtenacity, courage, and compassionâ đ More here
Deputy Killed Responding to Call
Many Welcome the National Guard
According to The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 29, 2025), about 150 National Guard troops have been deployed to Memphis as part of a joint federal and state crackdown on crime led by President Trump and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. The troops, operating under the new âMemphis Safe Task Force,â are working alongside the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and local police to target gangs and gun violence. Many residents and business owners say the presence has restored a sense of control and safetyâone store manager told the WSJ, âIâm looking for all the help I can get, I wish there was more.â Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, said itâs ânot what I would have wantedâ but is cooperating to âmake the best of this situation for Memphis.â Critics warn of militarization, but early results show fewer shootings and calmer streets as most locals appear relieved to see order returning. đ More here
Civil Unrest Quick-Reaction Units
The Pentagon has directed every state and U.S. territory to establish âquick reactionâ National Guard forces by January 2026, The Wall Street Journal reports. The order follows President Trumpâs August directive to expand the militaryâs domestic readiness under the newly renamed Department of War, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth. Each unitâup to 500 soldiersâwill be trained and equipped for riot control, detainee handling, and rapid mobilization in response to civil unrest. The directive marks one of the most significant changes in the Guardâs mission in decades, emphasizing readiness to support federal, state, and local law enforcement âas circumstances require.â đ° More here
Dallas Chief Rejects $25M
According to NBC 5 DallasâFort Worth, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux is standing firm on his decision to reject a proposed $25 million partnership with ICE under the 287(g) program, which would have allowed local officers to assist with federal immigration enforcement. Comeaux said his focus remains on keeping Dallas safe and continuing to reduce violent crime, emphasizing that his department must prioritize 911 response and community trust. Mayor Eric Johnson, however, wants the City Council to publicly discuss the proposal, arguing that such decisions should be made transparently. A vote could come as soon as Nov. 6, but for now, both Comeaux and the county sheriff say Dallas has no plans to join the program. đ More here
Charlotte Names Police Chief
According to WBTV News, Estella Patterson has been appointed as the first female chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, marking a historic moment for the city. Patterson began her career with CMPD in 1996, rising to the rank of captain before serving as Raleighâs police chief, where she oversaw a hiring plan that cut vacancies by more than 100 officers and achieved a 100% homicide clearance rate in 2024. A U.S. Army Reserve veteran and FBI National Academy graduate, Patterson said her priorities include reducing violent crime, boosting officer morale, and strengthening community partnerships. She replaces Chief Johnny Jennings, who is retiring after 33 years with the department. đ More here
Bat-Inspired Drones
According to the Associated Press, researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are developing tiny drones modeled after bats to aid search and rescue operations in darkness or extreme conditions. Led by robotics professor Nitin Sanket and funded by the National Science Foundation, the project uses echolocationâsimilar to how bats navigateâto help drones detect obstacles and locate survivors when power and visibility fail. The palm-sized, low-cost devices use ultrasonic sensors and AI to interpret echoes, allowing them to fly autonomously in fog, smoke, or at night. Researchers say the technology could make rescue missions faster and safer, with future swarms of drones coordinating their searches independently. đŚ More here
Mexican Mayor Killed
According to CBS News, Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan in MichoacĂĄn, was shot and killed during a Day of the Dead celebration after repeatedly urging Mexicoâs federal government to take tougher action against organized crime. Manzo, who had joined security patrols wearing a bulletproof vest, was outspoken about the cartel violence and extortion plaguing his region. Authorities said two suspects were arrested and one gunman was killed at the scene. The assassination comes amid a surge in attacks on local officials across Mexico, including the recent killings of a farmersâ representative and several other mayors, highlighting the countryâs ongoing struggle with cartel-related political violence. đ˛đ˝ More here
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