Brentwood Appoints Walter O’Grodnick as 13th Police Chief
Brentwood has appointed Walter O’Grodnick as its 13th police chief. He takes the permanent post July 16 after serving as interim chief since September.
Crime, Courts & Public Safety
Crime, policing, courts, fire and emergency response, investigations, corrections, and public safety.
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Louisville Reports First-Year Drops in Homicides, Shootings
Louisville’s first annual Safe Louisville report says homicides fell 22% and nonfatal shootings dropped 28%, the city’s lowest shooting total in a decade.
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Appeals Court Says Miramar Police Arbitration Hearing Need Not Be Open
Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed a ruling that would have required a Miramar police-union arbitration hearing to be open to the public.
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Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over 2024 Union City Meeting Arrest
A federal judge dismissed a civil-rights lawsuit filed by Leonard Filipowski over his arrest at a Union City public meeting in July 2024.
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GBI arrests five former Albany officers over license-plate data
Five former Albany police officers face charges after a GBI investigation into alleged misuse of data from the Flock Safety license-plate reader system.
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Memphis Police Report 36% Drop in Part I Crime Through June
Memphis police reported a 36% year-to-date decline in Part I crime, fewer murders and an 81% homicide-clearance rate through June.
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Schenectady Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Attempted Robbery
James R. Downing was sentenced in Schenectady County Court after pleading guilty to attempted robbery involving a knife and a pack of cigarettes.
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Two Killed, One Wounded in Shooting Outside Yuba City 7-Eleven
Two men were killed and a third person was wounded after a physical altercation and shooting outside a 7-Eleven on Market Street in Yuba City.
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Toledo Names Kevin Braun as Next Police Chief
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz announced Chief Michael Troendle will retire Nov. 1, 2026, with Assistant Chief Kevin Braun set to succeed him.
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Laredo Teen Arrested on Six Smuggling Counts Near U.S. 83
A Laredo teenager faces six smuggling-related counts after a traffic stop near U.S. 83. The arrest was reported Aug. 3; no next court date was identified.
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Madison Response Continues After Fatal Police Shooting Near Capitol
Protests and canceled or disrupted city events followed a fatal Madison police shooting near the Capitol as an independent state investigation continues.
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Stockton Council Approves Police Armored Vehicles and Drones
The Stockton City Council voted 7-0 to approve the police department’s annual military-equipment report and authorize 2026 purchases.
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Five Unrelated Shootings Injure Six People in Lexington Weekend
Five unrelated shootings injured six people in Lexington over the July 25-26 weekend, making it the city’s second-highest nonfatal-shooting total since 2021.
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Honolulu Police Plan August Launch of Citywide Drone Program
Honolulu Police Chief David Lazar says HPD plans to begin using drones across the city in August 2026 to help catch, investigate and respond to crime.
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Wichita Names Chief Mire as Fire Chief Tammy Snow Plans Retirement
Tammy Snow plans to retire as Wichita fire chief in August 2026. Chief Mire is expected to take command on Aug. 24 as the department prepares for a 2027 station opening.
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Aurora Reports 10.5% Crime Decline in First Half of 2026
Aurora police reported a 10.5% decline in overall crime, with all seven major categories down through May 24 and more than 4,500 arrests.
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Jackson Police Report Early Results From Quick-Response Team
Jackson police are reporting early results from a quick-response team formed after a deadly June, while officials continue a broader targeted-enforcement strategy.
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Fort Wayne police launch new Downtown District
The Fort Wayne Police Department has launched a Downtown District focused on public safety, community engagement and support for downtown growth.
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Seven arrested after Catahoula Parish investigation involving Jonesville police
A citizen report about information concerning a potential shooting led to a joint investigation involving Jonesville police, the parish sheriff’s office and Louisiana State Police Intelligence.
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Feasterville train derailment response ends after evacuation and shelter-in-place orders are lifted
Emergency orders issued after a freight train derailed near Feasterville on June 30 were lifted by July 1 after a hazardous-material response.
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Groveland CSD approves fire-assessment oversight committee after July vote result
The Groveland Community Services District appointed an advisory committee after its July 8 fire-assessment hearing, but vote totals and the assessment’s status remain unavailable.
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Spain-Led Operation Arrests 78 in Western Mediterranean Smuggling Crackdown
Authorities in Spain and Algeria arrested 78 people in a cross-border operation targeting a network accused of trafficking migrants, drugs and weapons across the Western Mediterranean.