The trial of former Uvalde police officer Adrian Gonzales begins, charged with failing to respond adequately during the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting that resulted in 21 deaths. Prosecutors allege he neglected his duty by not engaging the shooter despite knowing his location, marking a rare case of holding law enforcement accountable for their response to a mass shooting. The case could set a precedent for police accountability in such incidents.
A long-running investigation into the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy found that 12 police officers would have faced gross misconduct charges if they were still in service, but due to retirement, no disciplinary actions will be taken. The report criticizes police failures and a false narrative blaming fans, highlighting systemic issues and ongoing calls for accountability and legal reforms. The only conviction related to the incident was for a safety failure by a club official.
A former Louisville police officer involved in Breonna Taylor's death was sentenced to 33 months, highlighting ongoing debates over police accountability and reform in the US, especially under the polarized policies of the Trump and Biden administrations. The case underscores challenges in prosecuting police misconduct and the shifting federal approach to policing, with recent moves by the Trump administration to end consent decrees and reduce civil rights enforcement, raising concerns about the future of systemic police reforms.
The family of Jabari Peoples, an 18-year-old shot and killed by Homewood police, is demanding the release of body camera footage and answers about the incident, which they and activists believe was unjustified. Protests and legal actions are ongoing to seek transparency and accountability from authorities.
Bodycam footage shows the police shooting of Bilal 'BJ' Abdullah in West Baltimore after he appeared to shoot at officers, leading to a controversial and emotional community response and calls for further review of police tactics and use of force.
A beloved arabber, Bilal Abdullah, was shot and killed by Baltimore police during an encounter that involved a chase and gunfire, leading to community mourning, concerns over police conduct, and calls for justice and transparency in the investigation.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, elected on a platform of police accountability, has reluctantly dropped murder charges against State Trooper Ryan Londregan, who fatally shot Ricky Cobb II during a traffic stop. Moriarty cited new evidence and defense claims that made the case difficult to prove. The decision has sparked criticism and debate over the politicization of the criminal justice system and the challenges of prosecuting police officers.
Alameda County DA Pamela Price filed involuntary manslaughter charges against three Alameda police officers involved in the death of Mario Gonzalez, who stopped breathing while being pinned to the ground. This marks a reversal from the previous finding that cleared the officers of any criminal wrongdoing. The officers were charged almost three years after Gonzalez's death, with their attorneys criticizing the timing and framing the charges as politically motivated. The decision to file criminal charges was praised by Gonzalez's family attorneys, who emphasized the importance of holding officers to the same standards as the people they police.
Bodycam footage from a fatal Chicago traffic stop shows plainclothes officers firing nearly 100 shots in less than a minute, killing 26-year-old Dexter Reed and injuring another man. The chaotic video reveals Reed refusing to exit his vehicle before allegedly firing at officers, who then returned fire. Reed's family questions the police account and demands an investigation, while officials and the mayor pledge transparency and cooperation with the inquiry.
The New York City Council rejected Mayor Eric Adams' veto of the "How Many Stops Act," which will require NYPD officers to document nearly every public interaction, including the apparent race, gender, and age of individuals. Despite the mayor's concerns about public safety and police workload, the council voted overwhelmingly to override the veto, also rejecting another bill banning solitary confinement in city jails. Supporters argue that the new reporting system will hold cops accountable for unlawful stops and help address racial profiling, while opponents fear it will strain police-community relations and delay critical response times. The mayor expressed willingness to negotiate the implementation of the bills with the council and NYPD in the coming months.
A Seattle police officer, Daniel Auderer, faces potential discipline, including termination, after making callous remarks about the death of a graduate student from India who was struck by another officer's vehicle. The officer's comments, captured on his body camera, were deemed derogatory and inhumane by the city's Office of Police Accountability. The incident, in which the student was hit by an officer driving at excessive speed, has sparked outrage and led to nearly 400 complaints. The police chief will decide on discipline, while a criminal investigation is pending.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams vetoed a police transparency bill and a solitary confinement ban, arguing that the former would "handcuff the police" and the latter would harm public safety. Despite his fervent campaign against the bills, the City Council is likely to override his vetoes, as they were approved with veto-proof majorities. This marks the second and third time the Council would override the mayor, following a previous decision in July.
The New York City Council has passed the How Many Stops Act, requiring NYPD officers to report low-level encounters with citizens, including instances where officers ask for identification or consent to search. The goal is to gain a better understanding of policing practices in the city. The legislation also mandates the reporting of instances where individuals do not consent to an officer search. The NYPD will be required to post data on these stops quarterly on its website. While the police department and Mayor Eric Adams opposed the bill, citing administrative burdens, supporters argue that it will provide valuable data for informing public safety policy. Racial disparities in police stops persist, with a smaller percentage of white individuals being stopped compared to the stop-and-frisk era under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The New York City Council has approved two measures that Mayor Eric Adams strongly opposes. One measure would ban most forms of solitary confinement in city jails, while the other would require officers to report all street stops. Advocates argue that these measures are necessary for accountability and to address racial disparities in the use of solitary confinement and police conduct. The mayor and police union oppose the measures, citing concerns about hampering police work and response times. The bills will go into effect within three months unless the mayor vetoes them.
Bodycams were intended to promote accountability and transparency in law enforcement, but their footage is routinely withheld by police departments to prevent public scrutiny of misconduct. Police departments have been given the power to control what is recorded, who can access the footage, and when it is released. This lack of transparency has allowed officers to evade discipline for documented abuses and has hindered investigations into police misconduct. As a result, the public remains unaware of the majority of incidents involving police use of force, including the 28 killings by NYPD officers this year.
