US agents involved in the latest Minneapolis shooting are reportedly on leave, a situation that immediately sparks a wave of reactions, ranging from outrage to calls for justice. The news itself, that agents involved in a shooting are placed on leave, sets the stage for a discussion about accountability and the handling of such incidents. The fact that the agents are on paid leave, as the reports indicate, likely fuels much of the immediate anger. The natural reaction is: Is this a punishment or a reward?
Speaking of punishment, the Canadian experience with border services provides a stark contrast. The Canadian Border Services Agency, or CBSA, rarely fires their service pistols.… Continue reading
Uvalde trial: Former school police officer Adrian Gonzales found not guilty on all counts. It’s tough to digest, isn’t it? The news that Adrian Gonzales, a former school police officer involved in the Uvalde tragedy, was found not guilty on all counts. A lot of people are grappling with this, and understandably so. It seems many are surprised, even shocked, by the verdict.
The focus of the charges against Officer Gonzales, it turns out, was very specific. The prosecution zeroed in on his actions, or lack thereof, during the *first three minutes* of the event. They argued he should have immediately charged the shooter solo.… Continue reading
Following Renee Good’s death, Senator Ed Markey and Representative Ayanna Pressley are spearheading efforts to eliminate qualified immunity for federal law enforcement. They have updated the “Ending Qualified Immunity Act,” originally introduced five years prior, to allow victims to sue federal authorities for civil rights violations. This revised bill, targeting the 2026 legislative session, would remove the qualified immunity defense in such lawsuits. Senator Markey emphasized the urgency of the matter, citing concerns about impunity in cases involving federal agents.
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Following the Manchester synagogue attack, police confirmed that one of the victims was killed by a gunshot wound, and another was injured by gunfire. The suspect, Jihad al-Shamie, was not in possession of a firearm, and the shots were fired by police officers during the attack. Three other individuals also sustained serious injuries, including one with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The deceased victim and the injured individual were believed to be among those attempting to prevent the attacker from entering the synagogue.
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A Los Angeles jury awarded Cellin Gluck, a filmmaker, at least $2.2 million after he was shot in the face with a less-lethal munition by a Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy during a 2020 protest against police brutality. The jury found Los Angeles County liable for Gluck’s injuries and awarded him $3.5 million in damages, along with an additional $300,000 for his daughter’s emotional distress. Although the county intends to explore its options, including an appeal, it stated the awards will be reduced due to the protesters’ partial fault. Gluck’s attorney noted the verdict offers a measure of justice, yet the amount does not adequately compensate Gluck for his injuries and the lasting consequences of the incident.
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The increasing use of masks and obscured identities by federal immigration officers during raids and protests has raised significant concerns. Mike German, a former FBI agent, argues this practice is unprecedented and erodes democratic controls, making it difficult to trust legitimate authority. He notes that masking, along with a post-9/11 shift towards secrecy and intelligence-led policing, has made it harder to distinguish between law enforcement and imposters, potentially leading to increased resistance and dangerous confrontations. German stresses the importance of clear identification and accountability from law enforcement leaders to maintain public trust and uphold the rule of law.
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The Supreme Court unanimously reversed a lower court ruling dismissing a lawsuit against the federal government stemming from a wrongful FBI raid. The Court found the lower court incorrectly applied the Supremacy Clause, clarifying that a federal law allows lawsuits based on state tort law in cases like this. The case, involving an Atlanta family traumatized by a 2017 raid, will now proceed, allowing the 11th Circuit to consider the government’s liability for law enforcement’s mistakes. This decision potentially broadens legal avenues for accountability in cases of mistaken police raids.
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Newly surfaced video depicts Los Angeles law enforcement officers shooting a woman at close range with what seems to be less-lethal ammunition while she was near her home. The footage shows the woman being struck and stating that she resides there. The incident occurred amidst ongoing protests where authorities have employed various crowd control measures, including tear gas, flashbangs, and rubber bullets. The Los Angeles Police Department has yet to comment.
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A court halted his deportation. The Trump administration deported him 28 minutes later. This stark and unsettling scenario highlights a concerning pattern of disregard for judicial authority and due process. The sheer audacity of this action, occurring within a mere 28 minutes of a court order, speaks volumes about the prioritization of expediency over the rule of law.
It raises serious questions about the accountability of government agencies and the potential for widespread abuse of power. The brevity of the time elapsed between the court’s decision and the deportation suggests a pre-planned operation, designed to circumvent legal processes. This intentional circumvention of judicial authority is deeply problematic, eroding the very foundation of a just legal system.… Continue reading
Acting ICE head Todd Lyons criticized a Washington Post article questioning why ICE agents conceal their identities during arrests, arguing that the use of plainclothes officers is standard practice and citing a purported 413% increase in assaults on ICE officers. This statistic, however, lacks verifiable supporting evidence and appears to be used to deflect criticism of ICE tactics. The article’s author highlighted the arrest of a Turkish PhD student as an example of concerning behavior by masked, plainclothes officers. The use of masks and plainclothes, critics argue, hinders accountability for potentially unlawful actions.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker