Author: Christopher Marier

Barely four years before a gunman’s deadly rampage in Maine, the state’s governor signed a law to prevent mass shootings. It was called a “yellow flag” law, different from the “red flag” laws designed to seize guns from people viewed as threats… Full story: Maine passed a law to try to prevent mass shootings. Some…

At least 14 officers in rural areas of Minnesota and western Wisconsin have been shot this year, with four killed. Observers say the dangers of rural policing are growing, with suspects more willing to pull the trigger, yet the reality is rarely examined or discussed… Full story: Shootings spotlight ‘alarming’ jump in violence against rural…

The U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday that Cleveland’s new contract with police unions violates the consent decree, throwing the contract into unknown territory… Full story: DOJ: Cleveland’s ‘historic’ contract with police union violates consent decree

Cleaning up crime is the goal of a new effort from the Albuquerque Police Department. The agency is working with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and University of New Mexico police. Some of that effort uses new technology, called warrant track, to help officers identify people with warrants faster. The app includes a map that…

The program will pair police officers and mental health-focused responders on 911 calls… Full story: New Seattle program will pair police, mental health specialists | king5.com

The U.S. Postal Service says law enforcement officials have charged more than 600 people with postal crimes since launching a crackdown in May. The so-called “Operation Safe Delivery” follows a surge in robberies… Full story: USPS touts crackdown on postal crime, carrier robberies, with hundreds of arrests

The City of Durham is adding to its crisis response program. For almost a year and a half, the holistic empathetic assistance response team or HEART program in Durham, has been working alongside 911 to find a different way to reach the kind of calls that don’t need an actual police officer to respond. Starting…

America’s drug overdose crisis is out of control. Washington, despite a bipartisan desire to combat it, is finding its addiction-fighting programs are failing. In 2018, Republicans, Democrats and then-President Donald Trump united around legislation that threw $20 billion into treatment, prevention and recovery. But five years later, the SUPPORT Act has lapsed and the number…

A federal judge who previously overturned California’s three-decade-old ban on assault weapons did it again on Thursday, ruling that the state’s attempts to prohibit sales of semiautomatic guns violates the constitutional right to bear arms. U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego conceded that powerful weapons like AR-15 rifles are commonly used by criminals,…

Hours after Seattle’s new law against public drug use and drug possession took effect Friday, police officers swept through two neighborhoods and made about two dozen arrests, police Chief Adrian Diaz said. Police handed out flyers Friday morning in an effort to educate people about the controversial new law, then returned Friday afternoon to enforce…