Tennessee U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) said the Department of Justice’s new National Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Resource Center in an “unauthorized attack” on the Second Amendment.
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Nolensville Police Lieutenant Stephen Hale First in Department History to Graduate from FBI National Academy
Nolensville Police Lieutenant Stephen Hale recently graduated from the 289th session of the FBI National Academy, marking the first time in Nolensville Police Department history that an officer has completed the program.
Read the full storyNew Ohio Law Enforcement Certifications Established
Law enforcement agencies in Ohio can now be certified in the state’s new standards for professional excellence by meeting nearly three dozen standards established to entrust public confidence, accountability and integrity.
Gov. Mike DeWine recently signed an executive order for the new Law Enforcement Accreditation Program established by the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board.
Read the full storyNashville Metro Councilman Jeff Eslick Says There’s ‘Room for Improvement’ for Keeping Nashville ‘Safe’ and ‘Clean’ amid Missing College Student Case
Metro Nashville Council Member Jeff Eslick said the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) has “room for improvement” in regards to keeping the streets of Music City “safe” and “clean.”
Eslick made the comments during a recent episode of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show as he and host Michael Patrick Leahy were discussing the disappearance of college student Riley Strain, who has been missing since March 8 after being asked to leave Luke Bryan’s bar in downtown Nashville.
Read the full storyClarksville Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Fentanyl While on Bond for State Murder Charges
A 30-year old man from Clarksville has been sentenced to serve 25 years in federal prison for selling fentanyl while on bond for state murder charges, according to the Middle District of Tennessee U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Read the full storyBill Prohibiting Local Government from Restricting Duties of Law Enforcement Passes General Assembly, Heads to Governor Lee’s Desk
A bill that would prohibit local governments from limiting the ability of a law enforcement agency to conduct routine traffic stops passed the Tennessee Senate on Thursday.
Read the full storyMemphis Police Officer in Stable Condition After Being Shot in Line of Duty
A Memphis Police officer is in stable condition after he was shot in the line of duty early Friday morning, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD).
“At 4:19 am, officers conducted a traffic stop at 240 southbound near South Parkway. During the stop, an officer notified dispatch he had been shot,” said MPD on X. “The unknown motorist fled the scene. The officer was transported to Regional One critical. This is an ongoing investigation.”
Read the full storyVirginia Democrat-Backed Bill Would Allow Noncitizens to Serve as Law Enforcement
The right to serve as law enforcement shouldn’t belong solely to U.S. citizens, but also to individuals who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, according to Senate Bill 69.
The legislation passed the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate.
Read the full storyFederal Judge Blocks Texas Law That Would Allow Law Enforcement to Arrest Illegal Migrants
A federal judge blocked a Texas law Thursday that allows local police to arrest migrants who cross into the state illegally.
U.S. District Court Judge David Alan Ezra, a Reagan appointee, said in a 114-page ruling that the law, SB 4, “threatens the fundamental notion that the United States must regulate immigration with one voice.” He issued a preliminary injunction preventing the law from taking effect while the case proceeds, finding Texas was “unlikely to succeed on the merits” and noting the government would “suffer grave irreparable harm” if the law took effect.
Read the full storyWilliamson County Interim Sheriff Mark Elrod Says Narcotics, Fentanyl ‘Biggest Issue’ in County
Mark Elrod, who is currently serving as interim sheriff of Williamson County amid former Sheriff Dusty Rhoades’ retirement, said the biggest issues affecting the county in regards to crime are drugs and fentanyl.
“I would say that probably one of our biggest issues is drugs, narcotics, fentanyl. We’ve had an uptick in that as well as heroin over the last several years. With Williamson County, we’re a transient community where a lot of the drugs and other crimes come in from other areas into Williamson County. It’s not so much your next door neighbor or the people down the street, although there is some of that, but most of it is coming from other places…Davidson County, out of Nashville, out of the city of Columbia. We have four interstates that come through the county, so it could be, you know, really coming from anywhere, everywhere,” Elrod said on Tuesday’s edition of The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy.
Read the full storyTrump Could Initiate Mass Deportation Strategy on Day One of Presidency if Elected, Immigration Expert Says
Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, said a number of steps would have to be taken for a “mass deportation” strategy to be implemented on day one of a second Trump presidency.
Read the full storyExpert Warns Metro Nashville Council’s New ‘Immigrant Caucus’ Will Likely Cater to Illegal Aliens, Not Legal Immigrants
Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, explained different ways the Metro Nashville City Council’s new Immigrant Caucus may aid illegal aliens in Music City.
Read the full storyLawmakers Consider Bill to Prevent Arizona Cities from Defunding Local Police Departments
The Arizona House Rules Committee is scheduled to discuss legislation on Monday that would prevent cities from decreasing funding to their local police departments.
Rep. David Marshall, R-Snowflake, is the sponsor of House Bill 2120, and it has already passed the House Military Affairs & Public Safety committee in an 8-7 party-line vote this past Monday.
Read the full storyTennessee State Senator Brent Taylor Sponsors Several Crime-Related Bills in Effort to ‘Make Memphis Matter’
Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) announced he is sponsoring several crime-related bills this legislative session in an effort to fight crime and “Make Memphis Matter.”
In a letter to his colleagues in the Tennessee State Senate, Taylor detailed 13 pieces of legislation he is sponsoring and asked his colleagues to consider sponsoring the bills as well.
Read the full storyState Senator Brent Taylor: ‘If We Don’t Get It Turned Around,’ Memphis will Become the ‘Example of a Failed City’
Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) said Memphis will become the “butt of every joke” and the “example of a failed city” if its bail system and crime crisis are not addressed.
Noting how Detroit was once an example of a “failed city” and a “shell of its former self,” Taylor explained what steps the city has taken to reduce crime and how Memphis should follow its lead.
Read the full storyButler County Sheriff Wants Ohio State Lawmakers to Pass Legislation Focused on Curbing Terrorism Threats
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones called on state lawmakers to pass legislation focused on curbing terrorism threats posed by illegal immigration and insufficient cybersecurity based on information he learned at last month’s National Sheriff’s Association’s annual winter conference in Washington D.C.
Read the full storyOhio Attorney General Dave Yost Spearheading Effort Urging Congress to Stabilize Funding for the Federal Crime Victims Fund
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost led a bipartisan coalition of 41 other state attorneys general in sending a letter to congressional leaders urging the authorization of bridge funding for the federal Crime Victims Fund, also known as the VOCA Fund.
Created by Congress in 1984, the VOCA Fund provides federal support to state and local programs that assist victims of crime.
Read the full storyTennessee State Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Make Blocking a Highway a Class D Felony Offense
Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) and State Representative Jody Barrett (R-Dickson) recently filed legislation to make blocking a highway a Class D felony.
Under current law, it is classified as a Class A misdemeanor when a defendant “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly” obstructs a public highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, elevator, aisle, or hallway.
Read the full storyVirginia Legislation to Limit the Use of License Plate Readers Advances
A bill to limit and expand law enforcement’s use of license plate readers passed out of a Virginia House subcommittee, sparking questions during a debate about the age-old dance between government overreach and public safety.
House Bill 775 from Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, would institute statewide regulations governing the use of the technology and enable law enforcement to use them on highways managed by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Read the full storyArizona State GOP Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Strengthen Punishment for Child Sex Traffickers
Arizona State Representative Selina Bliss (R-Prescott) and Senator Shawnna LM Bolick (R-San Miguel) have joined forces to introduce legislation that addresses the “urgent need for stronger measures against individuals who engage in child sex trafficking.”
Read the full storyMore Than 100 Law Enforcement Agencies Across Ohio Awarded Grant Funds for Body Cam Programs
A total of 108 law enforcement agencies across Ohio have been awarded grant funds to cover costs associated with body cam programs, according to Governor Mike DeWine’s office.
Read the full storyNation’s Capital Devastated by Crime Spike in 2023
The District of Columbia experienced a 39% increase in violent crime in 2023, according to data published by its Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The District has long experienced issues with crime and property theft, despite having the most police officers per capitaof any jurisdiction in the country, due to the significant presence of federal law enforcement to protect the seat of the government of the United States. In 2023, overall crime increased by 26% over 2022, with 34,414 instances of violent and property crime reported to police, with property crime alone rising by 24%.
Read the full storyFamily of Tyre Nichols to Hold Candlelight Vigils to Commemorate First Anniversary of His Death
The family of Tyre Nichols, who five black Memphis police officers beat following a traffic stop and foot chase last year, will hold two candlelight vigils on Sunday to mark the first anniversary of his death.
Nichols’ family, who is being represented by civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, will hold a vigil in Memphis at the intersection of Castlegate Lane and Ross Road at 7 p.m. CT and in Nichols’ hometown of Sacramento, California, at the Tyre Nichols Skate Park at 5 p.m. PST.
Read the full story10 Metro Nashville Police Officers Reassigned Duties Following Investigation into the Covenant Killer Manifesto Leak
Ten officers with the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) have been reassigned duties following an investigation into the November 6 leak of the manifesto written by Covenant School killer Audrey Elizabeth Hale, according to reports.
Read the full storyOhio’s Concealed Carry Law Resulted in Less Gun Crime Last Year, Study Shows
A study published this week by Center for Justice Research, a partnership between the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Bowling Green State University, revealed gun crime decreased in six of Ohio’s eight largest cities following the implementation of the Constitutional Carry law.
Read the full storyMore Than $63 Million in Illegal Drugs Seized in Ohio Last Year
Drug task forces organized under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC) across the state confiscated more than $63 million in illegal drugs in 2023, according to Attorney General Dave Yost’s office.
Read the full storyOhio Officials Among Those Targeted in Nationwide Swatting Campaign
Four Ohio officials were targeted over the past week in a nationwide swatting operation, according to reports.
Read the full storyAtlanta Ranks One of the Most Unsafe Cities During the Holidays, Study Finds
A recent study conducted by Vivint, a smart-home security company, shows Atlanta, Georgia as one of the top ten most “unsafe” U.S. cities during the holidays.
Read the full storyGallatin Man Convicted on Charges Stemming from Three-Week Crime Spree in 2019
A Gallatin man has been convicted of multiple armed robbery and firearms offenses stemming from a three-week crime spree in 2019, according to the Middle District of Tennessee U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In December 2019, Lazavion Kern, 22, robbed four convenience stores in Gallatin and Portland, where he took thousands of dollars from the clerks, according to information cited by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Read the full storyCincinnati Fraternal Order of Police Elects New President
The Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge No. 69 elected Ken Kober as its new president this week.
Kober succeeds Dan Hils, who has served as president of the Cincinnati FOP since 2016.
Read the full storyEleven Georgia Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Roles in Drug Trafficking Organization
Eleven Georgia men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles as members of a drug trafficking organization in the metro-Atlanta area, according to the Northern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Read the full storyMetro Nashville Police to Hold ‘Safe Surrender’ This Friday and Saturday
The Nashville Metro Police Department (MNPD) will offer a “Safe Surrender” event this week for people with outstanding warrants to turn themselves in as “a special one-time opportunity toward a second chance.”
Read the full storyRecreational Marijuana Legal in Ohio Beginning this Week
A law legalizing recreational marijuana will take effect in Ohio beginning Thursday, meaning adults over 21 will be allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrate.
Read the full storyMurfreesboro Police Releases Body Cam Footage of Officer Shooting Armed Suspect Charging at Him with Two Knives
The Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) has released the body cam footage of an officer who shot a man armed with two knives charging at him inside Jason’s Deli at The Oaks Shopping Center on N. Thompson Lane.
On Wednesday, Officer Adam Claiborne, a 5-year veteran of MPD, responded to Jason’s Deli regarding an individual who had just attempted to rob the driver of an armored van at an ATM in the same shopping plaza.
Read the full storyTennessee Law Enforcement to Increase Patrols on Interstates this Holiday Weekend
This week, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDSOHS), Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), and Tennessee Highway Safety Office joined multiple law enforcement partners in announcing the Tennessee Interstate Challenge traffic safety initiative for this year’s Thanksgiving holiday travel period.
Read the full storyOhio State Representative Set to Introduce Bill Addressing Organized Retail Crime
Ohio State Representative Haraz N. Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg) recently announced his intent to introduce legislation focused on combating rising losses from organized retail crime in the Buckeye State.
Read the full storyAnother Tennessee Man Arrested for Felony ‘Civil Disorder’ at U.S. Capitol on January 6
A Tennessee man has been arrested on federal charges stemming from the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, according to the District of Columbia U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Read the full storyAtlanta Police Arrest Protesters Who Chained Themselves to Construction Equipment at the Future Public Safety Training Center
The Atlanta Police Department (APD) announced Thursday that five individuals were arrested after trespassing onto the site of the City of Atlanta’s future Public Safety Training Center and chaining themselves to a piece of construction equipment.
Read the full storyInmate at Fulton County Jail Dies at Hospital Days after Being Found Unresponsive in Cell
Another inmate serving time at the Fulton County Jail has died after being found unresponsive in their cell last month, according to a press release by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO).
Read the full storyAtlanta Police Department Reports 17 People Shot over Labor Day Weekend
The Atlanta Police Department announced Tuesday “multiple acts of violence” broke out in Atlanta over the Labor Day weekend which resulted in 17 individuals being shot.
Read the full storyRamaswamy Unveils Plan to ‘Shut Down the FBI’
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on Wednesday unveiled a plan to “shut down the FBI,” an institution that has drawn considerable scrutiny from Republicans amid allegations of political bias at the bureau.
Posted to X, Ramaswamy’s plan outlines three “key problems” affecting the agency. The first, “redundancy & waste,” highlights the 20,000+ employees in either non-essential roles or investigating matters another agency already covers.
Read the full storyDramatic Video Shows Law Enforcement Clearing Nevada Highway Blockade, Arresting Climate Activists
A dramatic video recording of law enforcement officers ramming through climate activists’ blockade as they attempted to stop traffic surfaced on Sunday.
Climate activists blocked a road leading into the Burning Man festival in Nevada on Sunday, causing a massive traffic jam, according to multiple reports and to video footage of the incident shared on Twitter. Video footage shared on Twitter appeared to show Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Police vehicles smashing through their barricade, and a law enforcement officer drawing his gun and arresting the protesters.
Read the full storyMilwaukee Police Union Chief Says Socialist Lawmaker Who Claims There’s No Dignity or Value in Policing Should Apologize
State Rep. Ryan Clancy, one of two members of the Legislature’s Socialist Caucus, is an espouser of the law enforcement-hating, defund the police movement.
The Milwaukee Democrat recently proclaimed that police officers’ jobs “have neither dignity nor value.”
Read the full storyMinnesota Town Police Force Has ‘Zero Applicants’ After Everyone Quits
The entire police force of Goodhue, Minn., has resigned and the town has no applicants to fill the vacancies, leaving the future of law enforcement in the community uncertain.
Police Chief Josh Smith will remain in the post until Aug. 24, but has told the city he could not find anyone willing to join the force, Fox News reported.
Read the full storyGov. Lee Continues Recruiting Out-of-State Law Enforcement Officers to Join Tennessee Highway Patrol
Gov. Bill Lee (R) is once again touting the benefits of becoming a law enforcement officer in Tennessee, as he attempts to recruit out-of-staters to join the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
“Law enforcement officers from across the country recognize that there’s no better place to work, live and raise a family than Tennessee,” Lee said in statement. “Over the past two years, we’ve recruited a record number of troopers to Tennessee’s ranks, and we continue to welcome men and women nationwide to join the Tennessee Highway Patrol.”
Read the full storyVirginia School Safety Forum Brings Educators, Law Enforcement Together
More than 1,100 people registered to attend the 2023 Virginia School Safety Training Forum, which will address roughly 20 topics pertaining to school safety and student well-being.
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and its Center for School and Campus Safety partner with several other organizations, including the attorney general’s office and the Virginia Department of Education, to put on the forum, now in its 22nd year.
Read the full storyU.S. Attorney’s Office in Georgia Organizes Gang and Violence Prevention Program for SROs in Metro-Atlanta Schools
The Northern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office organized an initiative to provide law enforcement training for more than 40 police officers from school systems in the northern district of Georgia to prevent and reduce delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office partnered with the Georgia Alliance for School Resource Officers and Educators, the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, and the Georgia Gang Investigators Association to provide the officers with Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.).
Read the full storyChamblee Police Department Launches New K9 Program Following City Council Approval
The Chamblee Police Department (CPD) recently launched a new K9 program following approval from the city council.
Read the full storyGovernor Lee Encourages Law Enforcement and Schools to Apply for School Security Grant
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Wednesday that the state is now accepting applications for grant funding from law enforcement agencies and schools in order to “further strengthen security at Tennessee schools.”
Read the full storyCell Phone Thief Arrested in Nashville
A man from Miami, Florida has been arrested and jailed on two counts of felony theft and one count of misdemeanor theft for his role in stealing cell phones from Nashville tourists.
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