Tag: Police Reform

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.

PSP Traffic Stop Data Analysis Reflects Impartial, Evidence-Based Policing | State Police | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, PA – As part of the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to transparency and fair policing, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) today announced the release of an independent analysis of data collected from all trooper-initiated traffic stops conducted in 2025. The report was conducted by a research team based at the University of Cincinnati and led by Dr. Robin Engel, Senior Research Scientist at The Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs and one of the nation’s leading policing researchers. The report represents the latest findings from PSP’s traffic stop data collection initiative, which is designed to strengthen public trust, enhance trooper and motorist safety, and inform policy and training.
— Read on www.pa.gov/agencies/psp/newsroom/psp-traffic-stop-data-analysis-reflects-impartial–evidence-base

Get a .PDF of the report HERE

What 1,000 Studies Reveal About the Crime-Fighting Strategy Many Cities Abandoned | Law Enforcement Today | lawenforcementtoday.com

More than 1,000 studies and decades of research point to the same conclusion: proactive policing reduces crime. So why are so many departments pulling back? This analysis explores the evidence, the controversy, and the difficult decisions reshaping modern law enforcement.
— Read on lawenforcementtoday.com/proactive-policing-research-reduces-crime-analysis

Chicago Police Failed to Place Troubled Cop Under Strict Supervision Before He Fatally Shot Partner – Illinois Answers

Carlos Baker was referred to a program that subjects officers to intense oversight. But Baker wasn’t enrolled before he shot Officer Krystal Rivera because a supervisor didn’t respond to an email.
— Read on illinoisanswers.org/2026/07/17/chicago-police-carlos-baker-krystal-rivera-personnel-program/

Why ShotSpotter Case Clearance Depends on More Than Tech – PoliceResearchHub

Key Takeaways
Cameras and gunshot sensors, alone or together, did not improve case clearance for fatal or nonfatal shootings in Chicago. A 15-year, matched quasi-experimental study of 6,068 fatal and 64,884 nonfatal shootings (2005 to 2019) found null results across every treatment condition tested.
Shootings exposed to gunshot detection technology (GDT) were actually cleared at lower rates than matched control incidents (25.9% vs. 39.2% for fatal shootings; 25.1% vs. 30.6% for nonfatal shootings), though once the researchers controlled for other factors, the difference wasn’t statistically significant.
Camera coverage (CCTV) showed essentially no relationship to clearance for gun violence, consistent with prior research showing CCTV’s investigative benefits concentrate in theft and disorder cases, not shootings.
The one bright spot: Chicago’s Strategic Decision Support Centers (SDSCs), district-level hubs that combine technology with dedicated staff and crime analysts, were linked to 19% to 24% higher odds of clearance in nonfatal shooting cases.
— Read on policeresearchhub.com/why-shotspotter-case-clearance-depends-on-more-than-tech/

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