The Weekly Briefing 🇺🇸
AI Crime Outpacing Police
A new Axios report highlights growing concern that artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming criminal activity in ways police are unprepared to confront. Futurists warn that off-the-shelf AI tools are enabling small groups — and in some cases foreign governments — to automate cyberattacks, generate deepfake scams, hijack identities, and even probe critical infrastructure. Deepfake fraud attempts surged 3,000% in 2023, and U.S. financial losses from AI-enabled schemes are projected to hit $40 billion by 2027. Analysts say criminals can now deploy AI to breach systems millions of times per second, clone voices for extortion, forge digital documents, or even manipulate autonomous vehicles and smart-home devices. 🤖 More here
Officers Shot Responding to Call
According to the Topeka Capital-Journal, four law enforcement officers and two civilians were shot after Osage County deputies and Kansas Highway Patrol troopers responded to a domestic violence call south of Topeka on Nov. 15. The suspect, 22-year-old Stephen McMillan, was killed in the exchange of gunfire, while his 77-year-old grandfather was also struck and is expected to recover. Two deputies underwent surgery and are in good condition, a third was treated and released, and the wounded trooper was transferred to KU Medical Center with an expected recovery. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says officers returned fire within minutes of arrival, and the incident remains under active investigation. More here
State Police Arrest 50 on Child Porn
Dealing with Political Violence
The Police Executive Research Forum reports that threats against mayors and local elected officials have reached unprecedented levels, prompting a national roundtable on public-official security. According to PERF’s summary of that meeting, agencies are seeing more threats than ever before, driven by recent high-profile attacks including the attempted assassinations of former presidential candidate Donald Trump, the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, an arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home, and targeted shootings of Minnesota lawmakers. Meeting participants told PERF they are now overwhelmed by the volume of threats—many of them vague, anonymous, or online—which require rapid triage, intelligence support, and follow-up even when they don’t meet criminal thresholds. The discussion highlighted the growing need for dedicated protection details, better coordination with fusion centers and federal partners, home and office security upgrades for officials, and training for families and staff. 🔗 More here
Record Spending on Security
According to Reuters, U.S. companies are now spending more than ever to protect senior executives amid a sharp rise in threats, targeted attacks, and doxxing incidents. Security firms told Reuters that demand for private protection details, home surveillance upgrades, and cybersecurity monitoring has surged following several high-profile killings—including the shootings of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York and Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner, as well as targeted attacks on political figures in Minnesota and Washington, D.C. New data from Equilar shows the median cost of executive security at major U.S. companies reached a record $106,530 in 2024, up 16% from the prior year, with about one-third of CEOs now receiving dedicated protection—up from 22% in 2020. Analysts say threats have been “massively ramping up” since 2020 due to online targeting, social media amplification, and the use of artificial intelligence to locate home addresses or conduct sophisticated phishing and surveillance. 🔗 More here
Wearable Health Monitors in Jails
San Diego County will begin testing smartwatch-style biometric devices in two jails as part of a broader effort to reduce in-custody deaths, according to reporting from the San Diego Union-Tribune. The Sheriff’s Office plans to deploy the devices at the Central Jail and Las Colinas women’s facility in the coming weeks, following a 2022 pilot that was abandoned due to short battery life and limited monitoring capabilities. The updated devices measure heart rate, respiration, and other vital signs and are designed to alert medical staff when an incarcerated person is in distress—such as during a heart attack in the middle of the night. The program will begin with medically vulnerable volunteers and remains subject to consent and strict data-use protocols. Sheriff Kelly Martinez noted that aging infrastructure, concrete walls, and limited wiring present major technology hurdles, even after $16 million in Wi-Fi upgrades. ⌚️ More here
New Pittsburgh Chief
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Corey O’Connor has tapped former Zone 5 commander Jason Lando to serve as the city’s next police chief, a move reported by Pittsburgh’s Public Source, which noted the decision ends more than a year without a permanent leader amid staffing shortages and heavy overtime. Lando, who spent 21 years with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police before becoming chief in Frederick, Maryland, previously led the response to the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting, oversaw implementation of ShotSpotter in his zone, and later commanded the Narcotics & Vice unit. Lando is now preparing for major upcoming events, including the NFL Draft in April, as his nomination heads to City Council for approval. 👮♂️ More here
Young Chief Drives Drop in Murders
Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett may have gone viral on social media, but as USA TODAY reports, his first year in command has been defined by a 51% decline in homicides, the city’s largest-ever police academy class, and a renewed emphasis on community engagement after Birmingham’s deadliest year on record in 2024. Pickett, the youngest chief in city history and a West Birmingham native, has pushed officers to get “locked in,” revived police athletic programs, and leaned heavily into visibility and relationship-building to rebuild trust. 📉 More here
Congress Moves on Hemp
Congress is moving toward a federal crackdown on intoxicating hemp products, inserting new restrictions into the government funding bill after years of pressure from states and the marijuana industry, according to Stateline reporting. Lawmakers aim to close a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed manufacturers to convert legal hemp into potent synthetic THC used in gummies, drinks, and vapes widely sold in gas stations and smoke shops. State officials, including 39 attorneys general, argue the underregulated market poses public health risks, especially for children, and undermines licensed cannabis systems. States have increasingly passed bans or tight controls—such as California, Texas, Florida, and Ohio—but enforcement has been inconsistent and online sales remain largely unregulated. 😶🌫️ More here
Chief Kathy Lester on Leadership
Revisiting my sit down with Sacramento Police Chief Katherine Lester. Chief Lester shares her remarkable journey from enlisting in the Army to leading one of California’s largest police departments. She discusses her views on education requirements in policing, the critical role of 911 dispatchers, building partnerships with federal and state agencies, and navigating the political and technological challenges facing modern law enforcement (and more).
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