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Why is there a police officer shortage, and what are the solutions?
The numbers are daunting. According to a PERF survey of departments across the country, 65% saw an increase in retirements and 66% saw an increase in resignations between 2020 and 2022. Applications for full-time officer jobs plunged 69% over that same period, while overall staffing levels dropped nearly 5%… Full story: Why is there a…
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Greensburg changes civil service hiring rule, hopes for increased pool of police candidates
It can take between six months and a year for a prospective municipal police officer to complete requirements of the civil service hiring process. In Greensburg, candidates now will be able to get a jump on that process by applying for a possible spot on the force before they’ve completed police academy training. “Hopefully, that…
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Minnesota banned some physical holds on students. Now school resource officers have questions.
Minnesota students can’t be held in a prone position or subjected to “comprehensive restraint on the head, neck and across most of the torso” under a new state law — and law enforcement officials are questioning whether it will prevent them from doing their job. Jeff Potts, executive director of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police…
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More schools require clear backpacks amid fears of guns at schools – The Washington Post
For some, the clear backpacks are just another prop in school security theater — an answer that does little more than put adults at ease. Critics say it has come to symbolize the lengths decision-makers will go to avoid passing meaningful gun control, a knee-jerk answer to the call to “do something” after a tragedy.…
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Denver Department of Public Safety Unveils Public Information Dashboards | Westword
The city unveiled two new public dashboards this week, showing first responder data and info about disciplinary probes in the Denver Sheriff Department… Full story: Denver Department of Public Safety Unveils Public Information Dashboards | Westword
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Flash mobs invade luxury L.A. retailers with brute force – Los Angeles Times
Overall crime rates in Los Angeles are down from last year, and a recent surge in smash-and-grab robberies makes up little of the overall problem of retail thefts. Still, the audacious daytime incidents over the last few weeks have cast a long shadow, leaving people who shop and work at malls unsettled… Full story: Flash…
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Portsmouth police officer honored for helping to save 3 lives in one weekend
Medical kit in hand, Officer Pierce made a tourniquet, applying pressure on the wound. His quick work stopped the bleeding as he led the victim downstairs to safety. That was the first of three life-saving responses that weekend, including coming to the aid of a woman who was shot twice. Instinct from his time as…
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AI playing increasing role in managing traffic on nation’s roads
Traffic managers said A.I. will eventually be able to use the network of traffic cameras and sensors to predict if a vehicle is about to run a red light — and then hold the light green, in order to prevent a collision. “The more you advance this technology, it’s going to reduce serious kinds of…
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St. Petersburg College launches mental health courses for law enforcement
St. Petersburg College on Monday announced a new program to train local law enforcement officers how to better respond to colleagues and members of the public with mental health challenges. The three-semester curriculum includes six courses in counseling and interviewing skills, as well as substance abuse and family interactions. Said to be the first of…
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Governor nixes proposal to relax police trainee standards for marijuana, drug use | Nebraska Examiner
Gov. Jim Pillen has rejected a proposed relaxation in drug-use standards to qualify for training as a Nebraska law enforcement officer, saying it could be viewed as a “watering down” of the standards. A panel of state law enforcement officials had recommended the change as part of a broader effort to qualify more applicants for…