PERF Trending

"Trending" is Executive Director Chuck Wexler's weekly update to PERF's members covering the latest news from PERF and the policing world. Past editions of Trending are available below.

2026

April 18th: PERF celebrates 50 years and discusses some of today's policing challenges
April 11th: Our first 50 years—the rest of the story
April 4th: New PERF report on the Law Enforcement and Society program, which uses the Holocaust to teach officers about the weight of their responsibilities
March 28th: Remembering former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III—a man of character and determination
March 21st: American police must prepare for drones and other threats during the war in Iran
March 14th: Looking back at PERF’s founding 50 years ago
March 7th: Helping fellow officers address excessive alcohol use
February 28th: A few recent stories about technology, high-profile incidents in the news, and crime during sporting events
February 21st: Considering the role of local police in monitoring federal law enforcement and remembering pioneering criminologist Al Blumstein
February 14th: ICAT at 10—A decade of saving lives and careers and improving policing
February 7th: Austin Chief Lisa Davis on immigration and managing change
January 31st: Chief Brian O'Hara discusses a tense week in Minneapolis
January 24th: Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill discusses the unique challenges of policing the world’s entertainment capital
January 17th: London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley on crime reduction strategies, addressing violence against women, the use of facial recognition, and deploying drones
January 10th: A compelling week for policing
January 3rd: A look back on 2025, a look ahead to 2026

2025

December 20th: Policing around Christmas
December 13th: New PERF report shows the importance of innovative police-prosecutor collaborations
December 6th: New PERF report helps police prepare for autonomous vehicles
November 29th: How do police chiefs relax?
November 22nd: New PERF report asks what can be done to reverse the increase in traffic fatalities
November 15th: Protecting mayors and other elected officials
November 8th: Discussing the Force Science Institute at our Town Hall Meeting
November 1st: What America can learn from Ukraine about the danger posed by drones
October 25th: Discussing the National Guard, immigration enforcement, school shootings, and real-time crime centers at our Town Hall Meeting in Denver
October 18th: Join us for tomorrow’s Town Hall Meeting in Denver
October 11th: The Rules of Engagement and Public Safety, and Remembering Rocco Diina
October 4th: Strategies to reduce juvenile crime
September 27th: Veteran Washington Post reporter Tom Jackman on covering the police and lessons for police leaders
September 20th: New PERF report on law enforcement-public health collaboration to reduce opioid deaths
September 13th: Minneapolis Chief Brian O’Hara on the recent school shooting and managing a traumatized agency
September 6th: “The Right Stuff”
August 30th: How the Wichita Police Department is implementing guidance on avoiding restraint-related deaths
August 23rd: Florida sheriffs discuss their role in immigration enforcement and the need for federal legislation
August 16th: MPD leaders should remain in charge of their police department
August 9th: PERF study finds third-party policing may help address some drug-related issues
August 2nd: Immigrant officers have improved American policing
July 26th: The legacy of a heroic MIT police officer and another successful summer at SMIP
July 19th: Federal immigration enforcement should focus on violent criminals
July 12th: CVI programs have played an essential role in preventing violence for 25 years
July 5th: PERF survey shows police staffing increased slightly in 2024 but still lower than 2019
June 28th: Developing a training curriculum for investigative supervisors 50 years after the RAND study
June 21st: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans discusses last weekend’s political assassination and the challenge of managing a multijurisdictional investigation
June 14th: LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell and Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna discuss major takeaways from this week’s demonstrations and rioting
June 7th: Witnessing incredible resilience and fortitude on my recent visit to Ukraine
May 31st: A few highlights from the PERF Annual Meeting in Nashville
May 24th: A Supreme Court decision on use of force; DOJ’s decision on consent decrees; and the death of former Baltimore police commissioner, PERF president, and COPS Office director Tom Frazier
May 17th: New PERF book on the first six months of a police chief’s tenure
May 10th: Implementing extreme risk protection orders
May 3rd: Chicago Superintendent Larry Snelling on his early life, his policing career, and making progress with an agency under a consent decree
April 26th: The important role of the federal government in supporting policing
April 19th: Former Washington Post publisher Don Graham on Watergate, the Unabomber, and his 18 months as a police officer
April 12th: Balancing community trust and enforcement: The complex issue of immigration
April 5th: Research on officer retention, new writing from Anthony Braga and Peter Moskos, and the future of traffic enforcement
March 29th: New PERF report on mental health treatment centers for police
March 22nd: Some fascinating uses of AI, Phoenix narrows its chief search, and the Met’s new data-driven strategy shows promise
March 15th: Immigration enforcement, a study on suicidal ideation, and a play partially based on ICAT
March 8th: Shifting traffic enforcement priorities and creating a culture of responsibility
March 1st: Courage under fire
February 22nd: A busy week on the road in Florida and New York
February 15th: Protecting the Super Bowl
February 8th: Supporting federal law enforcement
February 1st: NYPD’s Terri Tobin reflects on a lifetime of service and the heroic actions of first responders on 9/11
January 25th: Respecting and honoring the heroes of January 6th
January 18th: LA County Sheriff Robert Luna and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell discuss the challenges of policing amid record-breaking wildfires
January 11th: New PERF report on preparing for and responding to officer-involved critical incidents
January 4th: A look back on 2024, and a look ahead to 2025

2024

December 21st: A few (more) memories of working on Christmas
December 14th: A few recent stories in the news
December 7th: Street takeovers are a national problem
November 30th: Giving thanks for emergency dispatchers who make a difference
November 23rd: Giving thanks to the officers who go the extra mile
November 16th: Local and state election results reflect a shift in attitude toward crime and policing
November 9th: Police leaders from battleground states help protect the election process
November 2nd: Portland Chief Bob Day on drug laws, homelessness, the 2020 demonstrations and riots, and staying hopeful
October 26th: PERF’s Town Hall Meeting covers the challenges facing policing
October 19th: Come to the PERF Town Hall Meeting tomorrow in Boston!
October 12th: Tampa Chief Lee Bercaw and Asheville Chief Mike Lamb on Hurricanes Milton and Helene
October 5th: New report provides recommendations for cops and reporters during mass demonstrations
September 28th: Defensive tactics training: What works?
September 21st: PERF releases new report on avoiding restraint-related deaths
August 24th: Policing divided communities
August 17th: Preparing for the election: Resources for local police
August 10th: Tucson Chief Chad Kasmar on cultivating strong leaders and TPD’s “Struggle Well” program
August 3rd: SMIP incorporates Outward Bound to develop future police leaders
July 27th: A life devoted to getting the story right: Al Baker reflects on his career
July 20th: An assassination attempt on a presidential candidate, and increased public confidence in police
July 13th: Chief Mike Sullivan discusses DOJ civil rights investigations and lessons learned in Louisville, Baltimore, and Phoenix
July 6th: A few recent developments about gun regulation and policy
June 29th: Reducing restraint-related deaths, and remembering PERF’s longest-serving employee
June 22nd: Revisiting our “Chapter 2” publication five years later
June 15th: Preparing for drones as first responders and threats from rogue drones
June 8th: The staffing crisis has agencies taking another look at civilianization
June 1st: A few highlights from the PERF Annual Meeting
May 25th: Restraint fatalities, a high-profile incident in Louisville, and PERF mourns the loss of one of its star instructors
May 18th: After decades of increases, a glimmer of hope on overdose deaths
May 11th: 30 years of Compstat, falling homicide rates, use of AI in criminal investigations, and PERF events and opportunities
May 4th: Reflecting on college demonstrations past and present
April 27th: New PERF survey shows police agencies have turned a corner with staffing challenges
April 20th: With AI, the genie is out of the bottle, and policing needs to catch up
April 13th: PERF webinar series highlights agencies’ wellness programs
April 6th: A night of tragedy and professionalism during the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore
March 30th: Chicago Superintendent Larry Snelling and Milwaukee Chief Jeffrey Norman discuss preparations for this summer’s political conventions
March 23rd: California banned the term “excited delirium.” Will it make a difference?
March 16th: Four years ago, the world as we know it changed
March 9th: How Ukrainian police used Rapid DNA to refute Russian claims at the UN
March 2nd: Changes to traffic and pedestrian stops, police pursuits, LAPD Chief Michel Moore, and more
February 24th: Kansas City, MO Chief Stacey Graves discusses the Super Bowl parade shooting
February 17th: Reaching the Next Generation in Policing
February 10th: Maui Chief John Pelletier speaks with PERF about the after-action review of his agency’s response to the horrific wildfires
February 3rd: Policing and Artificial Intelligence—Promise and Peril
January 27th: An Untapped Resource: Addressing hiring challenges through legal residents and Dreamers
January 20th: DOJ review of Uvalde shooting, drops in officer fatalities and homicides, Phoenix’s ongoing reforms, and more
January 13th: We can change the narrative about policing, saving lives and careers
January 6th: New PERF report examines how agencies are using body-worn cameras

2023

December 23rd: A few stories about working on Christmas
December 16th: Police problem solving to address violent crime and transit issues
December 9th: Arbitration, traffic enforcement, and shootings by federal officers
December 2nd: The challenge of implementation
November 25th: Thanks to all the cops who make a difference
November 18th: Memories of working on Thanksgiving
November 11th: Gun cases at the Supreme Court, upcoming ICAT trainings, and more
November 4th: A carjacking crisis and a dysfunctional juvenile justice system
October 28th: Debating pursuit policies at our Town Hall Meeting
October 21st: A somber conversation at our Town Hall Meeting about the attack on Israel
October 14th: Trying to make sense of a senseless and brutal attack in Israel
October 7th: Good cops and good reporters
September 30th: Defining Moments for Chiefs: Managing Officer-Involved Critical Incidents
September 23rd: Police pursuit policies should be more restrictive to save lives
September 16th: Recent news about policing demonstrations, shooting at vehicles, and no-knock warrants
September 9th: Commissioner Danielle Outlaw discusses her experience in Philadelphia, Portland, and Oakland
September 2nd: How LAPD is using artificial intelligence to study policing
August 26th: Changing hiring standards can be an uphill battle
August 19th: Michael Harrison reflects on his career in New Orleans and Baltimore
August 12th: Overhauling the hiring process
August 5th: What’s it like being police chief in the hottest city in the country?
July 29th: Highlights from the PERF Annual Meeting
July 22nd: Remembering a remarkable police chief and honoring PERF’s award recipients
July 15th: Remembering a chief who showed how research can improve policing
July 8th: Should officers be allowed to view body-worn camera footage before giving a statement?
July 1st: Managing the mayor-police chief relationship
June 24th: Training the best and brightest future police leaders
June 17th: Community policing in action in Trinidad, and the importance of learning from international experiences
June 10th: A meeting about policing in Seattle’s immigrant and refugee communities
June 3rd: Come to our Annual Meeting in New York City and be part of the PERF Town Hall
May 27th: Honoring officers who died in the line of duty
May 20th: An important new step in the evolution of ICAT
May 13th: Chief Robert Contee discusses challenges he overcame to become chief of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department
May 6th: What to do about a drop in traffic enforcement?
April 29th: What have we learned about body-worn camera policy?
April 22nd: It’s time for police leaders to speak out against weapons of war in our communities
April 15th: Chula Vista, CA Chief Roxana Kennedy discusses her agency’s innovative drone program
April 8th: Notes from a return trip to Ukraine
April 1st: New PERF survey shows police agencies are losing officers faster than they can hire new ones
March 25th: Lessons from “Monday-morning quarterbacking” sessions across the country
March 18th: How do we get more women in police leadership positions?
March 11th: Police leaders using the bully pulpit
March 4th: What do we do when officers’ initial reports don’t align with video footage?
February 25th: MTA Police Chief John Mueller is creating a “body-worn camera video library” to showcase good policing
February 18th: Will prosecution of officers for unintended deaths lead to new pursuit policies?
February 11th: A powerful moment at our ICAT conference in San Diego: How tactics and communication can impact use of force
February 4th: Monday-morning quarterbacking the Memphis incident
January 28th: Tragedy and a leadership challenge in Memphis
January 21st: How do we raise the homicide clearance rate?
January 14th: A memorable two days with police in Ukraine
January 7th: Can Robert Tracy, who achieved large crime reductions in Wilmington, do the same in St. Louis?

2022

December 31st: Issues to watch in 2023
December 24th: Peacekeeping on Christmas
December 17th: Where is the outrage about the fentanyl crisis?
December 10th: Lessons from 25 Years of Policing Progress in Northern Ireland
December 3rd: Controversy Over Police Robots in San Francisco, and More
November 26th: Giving Thanks and Video from Dallas Town Hall
November 19th: How the NYPD revolutionized the police response to hostage situations
November 12th: The workforce crisis in policing
November 5th: Voting Rights and First Amendment Rights on Election Day
October 29th: Defending Lives and Democracy
October 22nd: The PERF Town Hall Is Back!
October 15th: Interrupting the Cycle of Violence: A Role for the Community and the Police
October 8th: A crowd control tragedy, body cameras on federal agents, a serial killer in California, and more
October 1st: Florida chiefs and sheriffs on the response to Hurricane Ian
September 24th: Former Acting Met Commissioner Sir Steve House on policing events in London following Queen Elizabeth’s death
September 17th: New Law May Spur a Significant Cultural Change in Policing
September 10th: Much to look forward to this fall
July 9th: The value of steady leadership during anxious times
July 2nd: The Improbable – and Remarkable – Career of John Miller
June 25th: A novel approach to recruiting the next generation of police officers and regaining public trust
June 18th: Tackling Gun Violence … from the Halls of Congress to the Streets of our Cities
June 11th: Review of the Uvalde response, political assassinations, Congressional hearings, news from Ukraine, and more
June 4th: Back in the Saddle: It Feels Good to Meet in Person Again
May 28th: What Police Chiefs Can Do about Gun Violence … and Restoring Public Trust
May 21st: Responding to Another Horrific Tragedy: A Conversation with Buffalo Police Commissioner Joe Gramaglia
May 14th: “It is not how these officers died that made them heroes….”
May 7th: When it comes to permitless carry, listen to the police chiefs
April 30th: A new DOJ resource that could make a difference on the ground
April 23rd: How police agencies can assist Ukraine
April 16th: Howard Buffett: Why a philanthropist chose to support better policing
April 9th: Rendering aid after a police shooting: turning policy into action
April 2nd: The President’s budget, NIBRS, and ghost guns
March 26th: In the debate over college for cops, maybe it’s time to rethink what success and potential look like
March 19th: Addressing violence while building trust
March 12th: Profiles of courage in Ukraine, and PERF’s international policing program
March 5th: The tragedy in Ukraine, and a personal story
February 26th: A trial of Minneapolis officers, and new thinking about police handling demonstrations
February 19th: The Difficult Challenges Faced by Two Chiefs
February 12th: A fascinating talk with Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly
February 5th: National narrative changing, research, and bosses
January 29th: A challenge to DOJ – Give us research that is timely and critical to solving today's challenges
January 22nd: Breaking New Ground Between Academia and Policing
January 15th: Why are police chiefs and DAs feuding in some cities?
January 8th: Issues to Watch in 2022

2021

December 18th: Is the Tide Shifting on Attitudes about Crime?
December 11th: “Shark Tank” Program Encourages DC Officers to Share Their Ideas
December 4th: Taking Police Suicide Out of the Shadows
November 27th: A Thanksgiving weekend movie recommendation
November 20th: Coming PERF Attractions and Interesting News Items
November 13th: “Uncomfortable conversations”: Police Scotland’s lessons from the COP26 demonstrations
November 6th: Is It Time to Rethink Traffic Stops?
October 30th: Inside PERF This Week, and Catching Up from Around the Country
October 23rd: DEA’s Anne Milgram reaches out to PERF on opioid deaths, marijuana, and violent crime
October 16th: This Year, Chiefs Are Retiring at Twice the Normal Rate
October 9th: Policing is about matters of life and death
October 2nd: Managing the Stress of the Past Year
September 25th: We had a lot of straight talk at our Town Hall Meeting
September 18th: DOJ Is Leveling the Playing Field
September 11th: Living up to the memory of what the heroes of 9/11 taught us
September 4th: Where is the sense of urgency about COVID deaths of police officers?
August 28th: A Time to Save Lives: Labor and Management Need to Come Together on Vaccine Mandates
August 21st: A lot going on this week at PERF
August 14th: "The Right Stuff"
August 7th: What can we do to prevent police officer suicides?
July 31st: Policing and COVID – It’s time to change strategy
July 24th: 2020’s Pandemic Within a Pandemic: The Opioid Crisis
July 17th: My Favorite Time of the Year Is Now
July 10th: Confronting the unintended consequences of marijuana legalization
July 3rd: Homicide Victims Are Not ‘Speed Bumps’
June 26th: Addressing the Defining Issue in Policing Today
June 19th: A preview of Tuesday’s Virtual Town Hall Meeting
June 12th: What happens when the social worker asks the police to step in?
June 5th: How Can We Get Cops to Stop Shooting at Vehicles?
May 29th: How a Detective Revolutionized Our Response to Hostage Situations
May 22nd: What Police Reform in America Really Needs to Look Like
May 15th: Honoring Heroic Officers
May 8th: The Challenge of Body-Worn Camera Video: Release Now or Wait Until Later?
May 1st: Investigations of Police Departments Are Important, but Let’s Streamline the Process
April 24th: Citizen Jurors and Citizen Review Boards
April 17th: What If the Police Shared Ownership for Managing Demonstrations with the Community?
April 10th: Out of Tragedy, Hope and Redemption
April 3rd: Getting Officers To “Step Up and Step In”
March 27th: A Time for Guardians and a Time for Warriors
March 20th: Looking Back on a Year Like No Other – and What’s Next for PERF
March 13th: Looking Back, and Looking Ahead, on Police Reform
March 6th: Professional employees told me some great stories
February 27th: The Unsung Heroes of Policing
February 20th: COVID Vaccines Are an Opportunity for Chiefs and Union Leaders to Work Together
February 13th: On the Difficult Issue of Race, Three Police Leaders Reflect on their Early Experiences, Navigating Their Careers, and Lessons for Others
February 6th: What’s going on with COVID vaccinations?
January 30th: Not Losing Sight of an Alarming Increase in Gun Violence and Emerging Nationwide Responses
January 23rd: Heeding the Call for Unity
January 16th: The Heroic Cops Who Stepped Up on January 6
January 9th: Trying to Make Sense of a Senseless Day
January 2nd: A New Year, New Challenges for Policing

2020

December 26th: Online Meetings: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
December 19th: The Lessons We’ve Learned About Policing and COVID
December 12th: Reform-Minded Prosecutors and Police Chiefs: How Do We Find Common Ground?
December 5th: What our survey of PERF members told us about policing, crime, and the next Presidential Administration
November 28th: Police reform and good police work cannot be mutually exclusive
November 21st: In spite of everything this year, we have much to be thankful for.
November 14th: What I Think We Can Expect from the Biden Presidency
November 7th: Alarming news of roving criminal gangs in Oakland
October 31st: ICAT Is Looking Like a Game-Changer
October 24th: Mass Demonstrations – The Never-Ending Struggle to Get It Right
October 17th: Let’s Talk About the Costs of Not Fighting Crime
October 10th: Unintended Consequences of Civilian Oversight of the Police
October 3rd: Paying Tribute to the Heroes of the Summer of 2020
September 26th: Who Wants to Apply for a Chief’s Job When Some Chiefs Are Treated So Badly?
September 19th: Police Executives Need to Monday-Morning Quarterback Themselves Too
September 12th: The Next Step in Monday-Morning Quarterbacking
September 5th: PERF members tell me they agree that policing needs “Monday-morning quarterbacking”
August 29th: How Do We Get Out of this Mess? Here’s A First Step
August 22nd: Lessons From the Recent Standoff in Cedar Park, TX
August 15th: A New Way of Looking at Mentoring
August 8th: We’re in a Hypercharged Political Environment
August 1st: COVID Has Demonstrated that Police Are Problem-Solvers
July 25th: This Is a Defining Moment for Policing
July 18th: When It Comes to Addressing Problems such as Homelessness, This Is What Police Reform Should Look Like
July 11th: The Good Cop
July 4th: Thank You
June 27th: Here’s What We’re Planning for Tuesday’s Town Hall Meeting
June 20th: PERF’s First Virtual Town Hall Meeting, Now Available on Video
June 13th: How Do We Respond to “Defund the Police”?
June 6th: Moving Forward from One of the Most Difficult Weeks in Policing
May 30th: The Death of George Floyd, and Its Searing Effect on Policing
May 23rd: Remembering 3 Giants in the Field of Policing Research
May 16th: What We Know – and Don’t Know – About Crime During the Pandemic
May 9th: The “Social Distancing Police” vs. Community Policing
May 2nd: COVID-19 and Criminal Justice Reform, and a Tribute to Tony Narr
April 25th: Looking forward to the return of in-person meetings
April 18th: Lessons from the COVID crisis that may help soften the looming economic crisis
April 11th: 9/11 and the COVID Crisis, As Seen by an Officer Who Survived Both
April 4th: Jim Collins's "Stockdale Paradox" and supporting policing friends during the COVID-19 pandemic
March 28th: The COVID-19 crisis and leadership lessons from General Stanley McCrystal
March 21st: PERF's new COVID-19 resources and the Martinsburg, WV harm reduction program
March 14th: PERF members on responding to the COVID-19 threat and previous PERF reports on responding to a pandemic
March 7th: Washington State COVID-19 responses, upcoming first-line supervision webinar, and PERF staff attend an officer wellness symposium
February 29th: Police chief turnover in Oakland, ICAT training in Hallandale Beach, FL, and emotional survival training in Baltimore
February 22nd: Use of force in Volusia County, FL, body-worn camera research in Miami Beach, and reducing nonfatal shootings in Topeka, KS
February 15th: Facial recognition, bail laws, and a new PERF report on less-lethal technologies

PERF Trending

2022

2021

2020

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