Tag: Police Community Relationships

City of Rehoboth Beach Releases Takeover Event Report

Independent review finds no evidence of police misconduct or racial motivation in May 19 response

The City of Rehoboth Beach today released the independent report regarding the “Takeover” incident that occurred on May 19, 2026. The Mayor & Commissioners voted during a special meeting this morning to make the report public.

The review was conducted by Max B. Walton and Lisa Hatfield of Connolly Gallagher LLP to provide the City with an objective, independent assessment of the incident and the actions taken by the Rehoboth Beach Police Department.

Key findings from the report include:

  • The independent review found no evidence of police misconduct.
  • The independent review found no evidence that the police response to the Takeover Event or the charges sought were racially motivated.
  • Rehoboth Beach Police Department officers acted within their authority and responded appropriately. Citations that were issued appeared to be consistent with conduct.
  • The charge of inciting a riot was applied pursuant to statute.
  • No further recommendations were provided.

Following the meeting, Mayor Stan Mills said, “on behalf of the City of Rehoboth Beach and Board of Commissioners, I would like to commend the professionalism of our officers and thank them for their service, on May 19 and every day, in keeping our community safe.”

Copies of the Report and the Exhibit are available here.

How community groups, activists and local media turned Camden, New Jersey, into a model of police reform

Camden, New Jersey’s homicide rate in 2025 was four times the national average – still high, but a marked change from when it was 18 times the national average in 2012.
— Read on theconversation.com/how-community-groups-activists-and-local-media-turned-camden-new-jersey-into-a-model-of-police-reform-282835

Buffalo could create new police oversight body : Investigative Post

The new body wouldn’t have the power to discipline officers but could gather complaints and information about misconduct and recommend reforms to city leadership. The proposal could be on the ballot for a referendum vote in November.
— Read on investigativepost.org/2026/07/09/buffalo-could-create-new-police-oversight-body/

Minneapolis police review: “No progress has been made” – Minnesota Women’s Press

Effective Law Enforcement for All releases its fourth review of the Minneapolis Police Department since the 2023 investigation by Minnesota Human Rights Department
— Read on www.womenspress.com/minneapolis-police-review-no-progress-has-been-made/

Get a PDF of the report HERE

What Works in American Policing: A Strategy-by-Strategy Assessment – R Street Institute

This seven-part series examines major policing strategies through a research-grounded lens, assessing each strategy against multiple criteria:

Credible empirical support
Measurable outcomes
Operational realism (given current staffing constraints)
Constitutional boundaries
Fiscal accountability
Rather than treating policing approaches as interchangeable catchphrases, this series evaluates what the literature actually says about each strategy’s effectiveness and what it means for agencies trying to do more with less while maintaining public trust.

— Read on www.rstreet.org/commentary/what-works-in-american-policing-a-strategy-by-strategy-assessment/

Rochester’s Police Accountability Board presents report on local policing technology

Rochester, N.Y. — Rochester’s Police Accountability Board presented a new report on Thursday examining how policing technology is being used around the city.

— Read on 13wham.com/news/local/rochesters-police-accountability-board-presents-report-on-local-policing-technology

Get a .PDF of the report HERE

When Homelessness Becomes a Law Enforcement Problem—and Why They Can’t Solve It Alone

Law enforcement agencies across the United States are more and more involved in responding to homelessness. Calls for service involving people who are unhoused, especially those who are chronically homeless, take up a great deal of officer time and agency resources. But being homeless is not a crime. This fact means homelessness is not, at its core, a law enforcement issue.

Homelessness is a complex social problem. It is shaped by housing costs, health care systems, job markets, and social safety nets. These are systems that law enforcement agencies do not control. For this reason, law enforcement agencies should not lead a community’s response to homelessness. Instead, they should be one part of a larger, shared response. They are most effective when they work closely with local partners to address the problem together.

Because law enforcement officers are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, they often become the default responders to homelessness. However, they are rarely the best equipped to lead a full response. Law enforcement agencies should have a seat at the table, but they should not sit at the head of it. Strong responses require many partners, shaped by local needs. These partners often include other government agencies, housing providers, mental health professionals, public health agencies, outreach workers, researchers, and people with lived experience of homelessness. Law enforcement officers play an important role, but that role works best when it is supportive, strategic, and collaborative—not punitive or isolated.

There are links to documents at the bottom of this Blog. Read more HERE

Homeless Response Guide

Homelessness 7 Things to Know

Covering a police officer killed in the line of duty  • Indiana Capital Chronicle

We can expect a lot of coverage when an officer dies in the line of duty. But that coverage should offer the public a clear understanding of what happened and what can be done to prevent a similar tragedy in the future.  
— Read on indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/04/covering-a-police-officer-killed-in-the-line-of-duty/

Vital City | What ICE’s Recklessness Teaches Us About Real Policing

As you read this article think for a moment would the situation be better in Minneapolis if the local police assisted ICE and controlled unlawful protestors.

The illegitimate Minneapolis surge gives municipal departments an opportunity to demonstrate what legitimacy looks like.
— Read on www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/minnesota-ice-alex-pretti-policing