May 2026

News May 28, 2026

BJS Releases Hiring and Retention of State and Local Law Enforcement Officers, 2020 – Statistical Tables

The Bureau of Justice Statistics, in the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, released Hiring and Retention of State and Local Law Enforcement Officers, 2020 – Statistical Tables recently. This report presents statistics on the hires and separations of full-time sworn personnel by general-purpose law enforcement agencies and the incentives offered to retain them.  Findings in the report are based on BJS’s 2020 Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) survey. Conducted periodically since 1987, the LEMAS survey collects…

Technology May 26, 2026

Video Doesn’t Lie? The Dangerous Myth Behind Camera Evidence

By John G. Peters, Jr., Ph.D. and John Black, D.B.A. Copyright 2026. A.R.R. Video can persuade, but it cannot capture everything. Technical limits, perception gaps and framing effects make camera evidence far less objective than many people assume.  “Video doesn’t lie.” “You can’t cross‑examine a camera.” These claims still echo through courtrooms, police briefings and public debate, even though they sometimes collapse under scientific scrutiny. Peer‑reviewed research has repeatedly shown that such confidence is misplaced, yet the myths endure, an…

Weaponry May 21, 2026

Balancing the Load

By Mike Boyle External vest carriers can reduce duty belt weight, improve comfort and keep critical gear within reach – but only when the vest and belt are set up with purpose. When I started out, my duty belt included my service revolver, a holster, a dual dump pouch for spare ammunition, and a handcuff case. This whole rig was secured to my inner garrison belt by a trio of keepers and a baton ring and I felt I was…

Training & Education May 19, 2026

An Overlooked Occupational Hazard

Why Lead Exposure Belongs in Every Firearms Training Conversation Firearms qualification is usually discussed in terms of readiness, policy compliance and officer proficiency. Yet, one of the most persistent risks tied to range work often receives far less attention: lead exposure. For rangemasters, firearms instructors and police officers who train regularly, lead contamination is a real occupational health concern. The hazard is shaped by how often personnel shoot, the type of ammunition being used and the conditions at the range…

News May 14, 2026

Best & Worst States to Be a Police Officer – 2026

WalletHub has released its 2026 report on the Best & Worst States to Be a Police Officer, highlighting where a law enforcement career may offer the strongest combination of compensation, safety, training, and overall working conditions. WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 30 key indicators of police friendliness. Metrics included median income for law enforcement officers, police deaths per 1,000 officers, state and local police spending, training requirements, and other factors tied to officer safety…