Week of June 2, 2025

Honolulu police chief steps down, private security, new policing model in Wichita, police reform, civilian police review board, innovations in policing, police accountability boards, firearm data tracing, violent crime, ARPA violence reduction, AI, real time data fighting crime, high tech policing, cameras, police drone transparency, use of force database in Washington, ‘Cop City’ records released, felony data transparency, prison closure, bail reform, and more…

POLICE CONDUCT

Honolulu police chief steps down amid controversy over vacancy rate, recent shootings, transparency issues (Hawaii News Now)

Malibu hires private security to protect homes in fire zone from burglars after PCH reopens (LA Times)

New Wichita policing model aims to identify locations, not demographics, to lower gun crime (KMUW)

Police Reform: How To Fix A Watchdog That Will Barely Bark, Let Alone Bite (Honolulu Civil Beat) see also: As Virginia police reforms take hold, decertifications jump (MuckRock)

Has the Columbus Civilian Police Review Board changed things? What we found (The Columbus Dispatch) see also: Police accountability boards working to ‘reimagine public safety’ (Spectrum Local News)

Why innovations in policing don’t work or don’t translate: An implementation science survey of US police leaders (T and F Online)

CRIME RATE

Cyber criminals are utilizing USB ports and public Wi-Fi to target unsuspecting fliers in airports in an attempt to steal sensitive information and money. (SILive)

Firearm data tracing mandate bill supported by Illinois Attorney General approved by legislators, heading to Governor’s desk for signing (Lake & McHenry County Scanner)

Sharp spike in threats to judges prompts calls for more security (The Washington Post)

What We Get Wrong About Violent Crime (The New Yorker)

ARPA Reduced Violence. Local Governments Look to Sustain the Gains (Governing)

CRIM-TECH

911 Tech Firm Prepared Raises $80M as It Touts AI Tools (GovTech)

Sophisticated Schemes Call For Sophisticated Services: How Real-Time Data is Taking a Bite Out of Crime (Mobile Ecosystem Forum)

Flock Safety Pushes Back on Data Breach Product Criticism (GovTech)

The Rise of High-Tech Policing (Police Chief Magazine)

Talking Agentic AI Cameras: Can They Prevent Crime? (GovTech)

POLICE TRANSPARENCY

Local journalist’s drone lawsuit sets precedent for police transparency in California (CBS 8)

Why haven’t the Abilene Daily Crime Reports been updated? (Big Country Homepage)

Washington launches database for police use-of-force transparency (NBC Tri Cities)

Atlanta Police Foundation ordered to release ‘Cop City’ records to journalists (Atlanta Civic Circle)

Tom Clark: Cook County state’s attorney has backtracked on felony data transparency (Chicago Tribune)

THE PRISON SYSTEM

Corrections officials begin setting milestones, plans for closing Stillwater prison (MPR News)

Gov. Abbott signs three bail reform bills in Houston, two become law immediately (KHOU)