PERF In The News

Harvard Crimson, March 1, 2024

Post-Faisal report recommends Cambridge police create special investigative body

 

Connecticut Examiner, January 23, 2024

By a 705-74 vote, Old Saybrook residents OK study of town police department

 

WUSA9, December 18, 2023

DC police officers to receive additional de-escalation training for mental health crises

 

Associated Press, September 19, 2023

New report recommends limiting police pursuits to violent crimes after rise in fatalities

 

KOAA Southern Colorado, August 22, 2023

CSPD hires outside research group to study department's use of force

 

Elgin Courier-News, August 18, 2023

Internship with Elgin police an eye-opening experience for Black college student: ‘I definitely had a shift in perspective’

 

CBS Baltimore, August 17, 2023

College students learn about Baltimore County Police through HBCU internship

 

WGRZ Buffalo, August 14, 2023

BPD participates in national internship program to give college students police experience

 

WDEF Chattanooga, August 10, 2023

CPD concludes first internship in Chattanooga

 

CBS Minnesota, August 4, 2023

"I'm not going to know, unless I go there myself": HBCU student interns for the Minneapolis Police Department

 

Associated Press, June 29, 2023

Police body camera ramp up started a decade ago. How well have they worked?

 

Washington Post, June 17, 2023

Big cities seek police chiefs in a critical time for law enforcement

 

Decatur Herald & Review, May 17, 2023

New ICAT police training building opens in Decatur

 

ABC News, April 6, 2023

'Vicious cycle': Inside the police recruiting crunch with resignations on the rise

 

WTOP Washington, March 3, 2023

DC based police think tank investigating Fairfax Co.'s policing policies

 

ABC News, January 29, 2023

Why police training in the US falls short compared to the rest of the world: Report

 

New York Times, December 25, 2022

As applications fall, police departments lure recruits with bonuses and attention

 

CBS News, November 26, 2022

Staffing shortages cause for concern among law enforcement agencies nationwide

 

KXAN Austin, November 14, 2022

Progress made but APD needs improvement in handling sex assault cases, report states

 

Washington Post, November 14, 2022

New-officer training presents ‘immediate crisis for policing,’ report says

 

Baltimore Sun, August 19, 2022

Interns see Baltimore Police Department with ‘fresh eyes’ — and suggest wide-ranging reforms

 

Baltimore Sun, June 21, 2022

Baltimore Police interns could help ease recruitment woes, improve community relations as pilot program launches

 

Fox News, June 3, 2022

Police from across US discuss 'perfect storm' of issues facing cities over past 2 years

 

Paterson Press, March 16, 2022

Police audit says Paterson needs more analysis of cops’ use of force

 

Associated Press, February 25, 2022

Report: Feds should create guidelines on less-lethal weapons

 

10 News Knoxville, November 3, 2021

UTPD co-hosts national training to safely de-escalate tense situations

 

Associated Press, September 25, 2021

US police departments clamoring for de-escalation training

 

Washington Post, August 13, 2021

Editorial: Preventing police suicides must become a national priority

 

News Center Maine, July 28, 2021

Police tactics with European influence being taught in Maine

 

Washington Post, June 23, 2021

Amid rising police violence, New York City police to train entire force in de-escalation

 

Associated Press, June 11, 2021

Law enforcement struggles to recruit since killing of Floyd

 

Boston Globe, May 24, 2021

Op-ed by PERF Executive Director Chuck Wexler: How a commissioner changed the culture within the Boston Police Department

 

Washington Post, May 19, 2021

Op-ed by PERF Executive Director Chuck Wexler: To change the culture of policing in America, have officers study the viral videos

 

WKBW Buffalo, March 2, 2021

Buffalo Police trained in new de-escalation tactics

 

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 5, 2021

Leading police reformer tackles APD overhaul

 

CNN, December 7, 2020

Here's what police chiefs think Biden should do to help address issues with law enforcement

 

Washington Post, October 28, 2020

Editorial: Another disturbing shooting of a Black man shows how desperately police need reform

 

Washington Post, October 27, 2020

Police de-escalation training gaining renewed clout as law enforcement seeks to reduce killings

 

EWTN News Nightly, August 11, 2020

Video: Seattle's police chief announces resignation; city council votes to cut police dept. funding

 

USA Today, July 31, 2020

'Perfect storm': Defund the police, COVID-19 lead to biggest police budget cuts in decade

 

The Australian, July 11, 2020

America's arrested development

 

USA Today, June 30, 2020

Police chiefs: Mounting pressure to alter operations, persistent Covid threat prompts unease

 

Miami Herald, June 25, 2020

Op-ed by PERF Executive Director Chuck Wexler: Believe it or not, policing is getting better, but there’s a long way to go

 

NBC News, June 24, 2020

A Florida sheriff adopted Scottish police training. Now his deputies use force less often.

 

PBS NewsHour, June 8, 2020

2 views on the future of American policing

 

Catholic News Agency, June 7, 2020

George Floyd’s death shows need for ‘sanctity of life’ police training, researcher says

 

CBS News, June 2, 2020

Video: What it will take to reduce deadly use of force by police

 

NBC News, May 29, 2020

Nation's police widely condemn move used to restrain George Floyd

 

Washington Post, May 19, 2020

Amid pandemic, crime dropped in many U.S. cities, but not all

 

WNYC's The Takeaway, March 26, 2020

How unarmed police officers abroad defuse tense situations

 

Washington Post, January 10, 2020

Editorial: ‘Suicide by cop’ is a persistent problem. Here’s how to prevent it.

 

ABC 25 Waco, January 9, 2020

Brazos County becomes first law enforcement agency in Texas to implement FirstNet

 

Washington Post, October 31, 2019

Police chiefs propose ways to reduce ‘suicide by cop’

 

Chicago Tribune, October 30, 2019

Chicago Police Department told it must overhaul the way it investigates homicides — but when and at what cost?

 

Associated Press, October 24, 2019

Police face dilemma over when to take suicidal officer's gun

 

Austin Chronicle, September 27, 2019

City Council picks team to audit APD rape cases

 

ABC News, September 17, 2019

US police agencies having trouble hiring, keeping officers, according to a new survey

 

WKOW Madison, September 10, 2019

Madison police efforts with immigrant communities highlighted in national report

 

ABC News, August 11, 2019

Prosecuting human traffickers poses significant challenges, top prosecutor says

 

Washington Post, July 17, 2019

As prosecutors launch reforms, police chiefs convene national summit in D.C. with district attorney counterparts

 

Honolulu Civil Beat, June 24, 2019

How to attract good police officers in the face of a nationwide shortage

 

Washington Post, June 14, 2019

Is cowardice a crime? Scot Peterson’s failure leaves us with complicated questions.

 

Kansas City Star, June 10, 2019

‘When does it stop?’: Police car chases over petty crimes can kill, maim innocents

 

Associated Press, May 16, 2019

Lawmaker wants to ban police from shooting at vehicles

 

ABC 13 Asheville (NC), April 12, 2019

City hires headhunting nonprofit to provide police chief candidates

 

ABC News, April 6, 2019

'Never seen it as bad as it is now': Law enforcement brass shine spotlight on police suicides

 

Jacksonville (NC) Daily News, April 5, 2019

JPD reduces use of force with goal to ‘preserve life’

 

Washington Post, April 4, 2019

Column: Talking openly about police suicide is an important and long-overdue first step

 

Christian Science Monitor, March 14, 2019

In California, two proposed laws with one aim: saving lives

 

Elkhart (IN) Truth, February 8, 2019

Mayor picks group for police review

 

Reuters, February 4, 2019

As death toll keeps rising, U.S. communities start rethinking Taser use

 

USA Today, February 1, 2019

Police are looking for alternatives to guns. How effective are they?

 

Washington Post, December 4, 2018

Who wants to be a police officer? Job applications plummet at most U.S. departments

 

Christian Science Monitor, August 16, 2018

Teaching police to holster their emotions

 

Washington Post, June 8, 2018

Police chiefs plot new strategies against gun violence and mass shootings

 

Oregonian, May 4, 2018

Outside instructors provide new de-escalation training to Portland police

 

Boston Globe, May 3, 2018

Op-ed: A Boston police commissioner who transformed the profession

 

Los Angeles Times, April 5, 2018

Raise the standard for police use of deadly force in California? Proceed with caution

 

New York Times, February 5, 2018

An ‘iceberg’ of unseen crimes: Many cyber offenses go unreported

 

Carnegie Reporter, January 29, 2018

Just Imagine: You Are a Refugee

 

Carnegie Reporter, January 29, 2018

Our Town, Your Town: Welcome

 

Carnegie Diffusion Podcast, January 26, 2018

Our Town, Your Town: Welcome

 

Washington Post, January 19, 2018

Op-ed: What it will take to reduce deadly shootings by police

 

Eugene Register-Guard, November 3, 2017

Eugene police receive independent evaluation of department's practices

 

NJ.com, August 22, 2017

How N.J.'s most dangerous city is trying to stop police shootings

 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 6, 2017

Op-ed: Don't revert to police pursuits that endanger the public

 

New York Times, June 12, 2017

When opioid addicts find an ally in blue

 

Washington Post, May 12, 2017

Hispanics ‘are going further into the shadows’ amid chilling immigration debate, police say

 

Los Angeles Times, March 6, 2017

Op-ed: Police chiefs across the country support sanctuary cities because they keep crime down

 

San Francisco Chronicle, December 15, 2016

Op-ed: SF should ban officers from shooting at vehicles

 

Washington Post, October 16, 2016

Cities nationwide embrace de-escalation training to reduce police shootings

 

Washington Post, September 22, 2016

Police devise strategies to embrace growing refugee populations

 

Seattle Times, August 22, 2016

Report says Pasco should hire more Spanish-speaking officers

 

Irish Central, August 22, 2016

Op-ed: Irish cop John Timoney taught America how to reform policing

 

CATO Institute, August 12, 2016

Commentary: Real police reform requires national policing standards

 

New York Times, August 10, 2016

Quotation of the Day

 

Miami Herald, June 3, 2016

Recent incidents reignite debate on police shooting into moving vehicles

 

St. Cloud Times, April 19, 2016

Police chiefs hear guidelines to avoid shootings

 

Washington Post, March 31, 2016

Fairfax police demonstrate new training based on PERF ‘de-escalation’ principles

 

South Florida Sun Sentinel, March 16, 2016

Review of Palm Beach County deputy shootings urges 70 policy changes

 

New York Times, March 2, 2016

Op-ed: Making policing safer for everyone

 

Los Angeles Times, February 16, 2016

Editorial: Police chiefs should help write, not shun, new use-of-force standards

 

New York Times, January 29, 2016

Police leaders unveil principles intended to shift policing practices nationwide

 

Washington Post, January 29, 2016

Police chiefs consider dramatic reforms to officer tactics, training to prevent so many shootings

 

New York Times, December 11, 2015

U.S. police leaders, visiting Scotland, get lessons on avoiding deadly force

 

New York Times, November 17, 2015

Baltimore Police assailed for response after Freddie Gray’s death

 

Baltimore Sun, November 16, 2015

Report details 'major shortcomings' in Baltimore police response to unrest

 

Tallahassee Democrat, October 15, 2015

Report recommends TPD use-of-force changes

 

ABC 27 News, October 13, 2015

Report: Dauphin County police merger saves money for most

 

Washington Post, October 10, 2015

Police body cameras: A struggle over who controls the footage

 

New Rochelle Daily Voice, September 25, 2015

New Rochelle Police Commissioner Carroll earns prestigious national honor

 

St. Louis American, September 18, 2015

Chiefs call for reform of use of force, Police Executive Research Forum releases new critical report on training

 

Boston Globe, September 6, 2015

Column: Police seek ways to save lives, including their own

 

Kansas City Star, August 23, 2015

Editorial: Law enforcement group calls for big changes to cut down on police shootings

 

Arizona Republic, July 10, 2015

Phoenix activist asks nation's police chiefs for "empathy"

 

New York Times, May 5, 2015

Police rethink long tradition on using force

 

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 3, 2015

Research group proposes reforms to St. Louis-area policing

 

Los Angeles Times, March 18, 2015

U.S. issues recommendations for San Diego police

 

St. Louis American, January 16, 2015

Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal co-hosts town forum on police work (St. Louis County, MO)

 

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 7, 2015

Town hall meeting in St. Louis explores policing in region

 

USA Today, November 23, 2015

Op-ed by Chuck Wexler: Police curb use of lethal force

 

USA Today, November 20, 2014

Police union, chiefs call for mandatory armor, seat belts

 

St. Louis Public Radio, November 16, 2014

Study to examine how St. Louis region should police itself

 

Washington Post, October 28, 2014

The quiet, controversial partnership between the Israeli and Palestinian police chiefs

 

Jerusalem Post, October 27, 2014

American NGO honors Israeli, PA, Jordanian police chiefs

 

Israel Hayom, October 15, 2014

Police chief gets leadership award from US police organization (Israel)

 

Reuters, September 17, 2014

Police chiefs pledge more transparency after Ferguson

 

Minneapolis Star Tribune, September 11, 2014

On larger stage, Chief Harteau urges better cooperation on gun violence

 

FOX6 WITI, September 11, 2014

Leaders from Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago look for ways to curb gun violence

 

ABC27 WHTM, September 10, 2014

Firm selected to study police regionalization in Dauphin County (PA)

 

Minneapolis Star Tribune, September 5, 2014

Minnesota heroin summit backs aggressive measures

 

Minneapolis Star Tribune, July 27, 2014

Minneapolis police outreach to Somali community offers a national model

 

Patriot Ledger, May 31, 2014

Quincy's Narcan leader given national police award

 

New York Times, May 30, 2014

Book guiding border agents on force is released

 

Customs and Border Protection, May 30, 2014

Press Release: CBP releases use of force policy handbook and Police Executive Research Forum report

 

NBC News, May 30, 2014

Secrecy lifted from border agency's use of force

 

Wall Street Journal, May 30, 2014

Customs and Border Protection updates rules on use of force

 

Center for Investigative Reporting, May 30, 2014

Border agency releases report on use of force and revised guidelines

 

Boston Globe, May 29, 2014

Quincy police lieutenant honored for overdose response program

 

The Crime Report, April 17, 2014

Police plot ways to get more addicts into treatment

 

USA Today, April 17, 2014

Heroin a growing threat across USA, police say

 

NBC News, April 16, 2014

Police officials say patient privacy law pulls shroud over drug OD data

 

New York Times, April 2, 2014

Police confront rising number of mentally ill suspects

 

Sacramento Bee, March 12, 2014

Editorial: Border Patrol rightly restricts use of deadly force by agents

 

Arizona Republic, March 7, 2014

Border Patrol tightens use-of-force rules

 

Los Angeles Times, March 2, 2014

Editorial: It's the U.S.-Mexico border, not the Wild West

 

Los Angeles Times, February 27, 2014

Border Patrol's use of deadly force criticized in report

 

Miami Herald, February 26, 2014

Miami Beach Police Department's policies to be audited

 

Newsday, January 29, 2014

Nassau police ethics practices to be studied

 

Washington Post, January 28, 2014

Homeland Security blacked out recommendation on Border Patrol restraint

It's one of the U.S. Border Patrol's most controversial practices: shooting at migrants and suspected drug runners who throw rocks and other objects at agents. Many law enforcement experts say the best option is to take cover or move elsewhere, rather than use lethal force. PERF, hired last year by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to review the Border Patrol's practices, recommended restraint when agents encounter rock throwers who don't pose an imminent threat of serious injury or death. But when the DHS inspector general released a report in September on the Border Patrol's use of force, officials blacked out that call for holding back in such incidents, among other recommendations.

 

The Chattanoogan, January 14, 2014

Berke administration chooses PERF to help decide next police chief (Chattanooga, TN)

 

Boston Globe, November 19, 2013

Editorial: GPS tools in cruisers are part of 21st-century policing

 

The Day, November 8, 2013

Study: Groton should consolidate some police services (CT)

 

Kansas City Star, September 5, 2013

Op-Ed by Sam Dotson, Darryl Forte, and Chuck Wexler: Missouri gun law would force police to arrest federal agents

 

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 4, 2013

Op-Ed by Sam Dotson, Darryl Forte, and Chuck Wexler: Local/federal partnerships work in reducing gun violence

The Missouri Legislature is receiving national attention for passing a law that would make it a state crime for the FBI, ATF and other agencies to do their job of enforcing federal gun laws in Missouri. The outcome of this absurd legislation is that our communities will be less safe if criminals are not prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

 

TLV1 Radio, August 29, 2013

Reasonable Doubt, Hosted by Ben Hartman

In this program, Ben Hartman interviews Chuck Wexler about the recent announcement that Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, and American police chiefs began a series of meetings in 2012 to discuss policing issues of joint concern. The interview begins at the 11:35 minute mark and continues to 20:00. 

 

CBS News, August 21, 2013

Video: Middle East police heads meet in effort to strengthen law in region

 

Washington Post, August 21, 2013

Israeli, Palestinian police may form joint patrols

Israeli and Palestinian police officers could soon find themselves on joint patrols in search of reckless drivers and other criminals if plans revealed Wednesday by the chief commissioners of both forces are endorsed by their leadership. The two most senior officers of both police forces, alongside their Jordanian counterpart, revealed that they have been meeting secretly over the past year and a half under the auspices of the Police Executive Research Forum, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization.

 

USA TODAY, June 11, 2013

Eyewitness rules ignored, wrongful convictions result

More than four out of five police agencies in the U.S. have no written policies for handling eyewitness identifications despite long-standing federal guidelines, according to a report obtained by USA TODAY. The report, which was produced for the Justice Department's research arm by the Police Executive Research Forum, is the first national assessment of eyewitness identification standards. 

 

Las Cruces Sun-News, May 13, 2013

Independent review of Las Cruces Police Department standards is favorable

 

Manassas Patch, May 8, 2013

Former Prince William County Police Chief Charlie Deane receives leadership award

 

Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 6, 2013

Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson honored by Police Executive Research Forum

 

New York Times, April 6, 2013

In shift, police advise taking an active role to counter mass attacks

The speed and deadliness of mass shootings have prompted police departments to recommend fleeing, hiding or fighting in the event of a mass attack, instead of remaining passive and waiting for help. In an analysis of 84 such shootings, researchers at Texas State University found that the average time it took for the police to respond was three minutes. "But about half the attacks are over before the police get there, even when they arrive quickly," said J. Pete Blair, an author of the research. In the absence of a police presence, how victims responded often made the difference between life and death, Dr. Blair said.

 

Chicago Sun-Times, April 6, 2013

Chicago Police program protects kids targeted with gang violence

A little-noticed unit of the Chicago Police Department, the Gang School Safety Team, works to identify youths whose lives may be in danger because they witnessed gang murders or for other reasons. Over the past three years, at the team's recommendation, about 60 students have been transferred to other schools for their protection. Most are sent to another public school in Chicago. Some head to the suburbs. Others need to move out of state.

 

Corpus Christi Caller Times, February 23, 2013

Corpus Christi Police Department highlighted for doing more with less

 

USA TODAY, February 18, 2013

Authorities' new advice to schools: Confront shooter

Law enforcement authorities are increasingly advising school officials - and even young students - to physically confront suspects in future campus attacks as a final line of defense. "These incidents are becoming a fact of life," University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Chief Susan Riseling told a [PERF] meeting of law enforcement colleagues in Washington. "If there is no other option, take the shooter out." Prof. Pete Blair of Texas State University said that in many cases, potential victims "have no choice" but to defend themselves. In a study of 84 active shooter incidents between 2000 and 2012, Blair said that in 16 incidents, victims stopped the attack before police arrived, either by subduing the attacker - 13 cases - or shooting the attacker in three cases.

 

New York Times, February 1, 2013

Editorial: Myths about gun regulation

 

USA TODAY, November 15, 2012

More law enforcement agencies require body armor

A rising number of law enforcement officers are required to wear body armor, according to a new study conducted by PERF for the National Institute of Justice. Ninety-two percent of officers reported that their agencies now have mandatory body armor policies, up from 59% in a similar 2009 survey. The report comes as firearm-related police fatalities have declined 34% so far this year, compared with the same period last year.

 

Austin American-Statesman, July 5, 2012

Study calls for hiring 250 police personnel over next five years (Austin, TX)

 

The Guardian, June 25, 2012

Arizona police sound alarm after court justices uphold immigration checks

 

Memphis Commercial Appeal, June 20, 2012

Editorial: Footing the bill for full service (Memphis)

 

USA TODAY, April 29, 2012

Domestic violence rises in sluggish economy, police report

 

New York Times, April 27, 2012

Fewer illegal immigration stopped for traffic violations will face departation

 

New York Times, April 27, 2012

Police chiefs focus on disparities in gun violence, with an eye toward solutions

 

New York Times, December 17, 2011

Patrick V. Murphy, police leader who reformed New York force, dies at 91

 

The Crime Report, November 30, 2011

Police vs. Occupy Wall Street: Special Report

 

The Boston Phoenix, November 26, 2011

A PERF-ect Storm

 

New York Times, November 19, 2011

Op-Ed: Confusing sex and rape

 

San Jose Mercury News, November 15, 2011

Under seige from coast to coast, Occupy camps now losing battles in court

 

U.S. Department of Justice, November 9, 2011

Justice Department research shows that school-level interventions reduce dating violence by up to 50 percent

 

Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 24, 2011

Cleveland asks for a review of police policy on use of force

 

Baltimore Sun, October 18, 2011

FBI committee moves to update rape definition

 

New York Times, September 28, 2011

Rape definition too narrow, critics say

Thousands of sexual assaults are not reflected in the UCR system because it uses an archaic definition of rape that is narrower than the definitions used by most police departments, according to police chiefs and other experts who discussed the definition and other sexual assault-related issues at a PERF conference in Washington last Friday. UCR Unit Chief Greg Scarbro told participants at the PERF meeting that the FBI agrees the definition should be revised and that an FBI subcommittee will take up the issue on Oct. 18. "Our goal will be to leave that meeting with a [new] definition and a mechanism," Mr. Scarbro said. But he noted that law enforcement agencies would have to support any change.

 

New York Times, September 15, 2011

Deportation program sows mistrust, U.S. is told

Note: PERF members Charles Ramsey, Douglas Gillespie, Lupe Valdez, and Roberto Villasenor and PERF Executive Director Chuck Wexler served on the Task Force that is the subject of this article.

 

Lorain Morning Journal, September 1, 2011

Lorain Police Department to get technology study (OH)

 

New York Times, August 25, 2011

Meant to ease fears of deportation program, federal hearings draw anger

 

Journal & Topics Newspapers, August 14, 2011

Mt. Prospect, IL police officers complete executive training

 

Corpus Christi Caller Times, July 22, 2011

Police command staff receives three-day training from national police experts

 

Albuquerque Weekly Alibi, June 30, 2011

Law enforcement think tank weighs in on APD's shootings

 

Seattle Times, April 29, 2011

Urban police chiefs in Seattle with agenda of building community trust