Alabama: Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith faces six misdemeanor counts after a grand jury indicted him on May 30, 2025, for knowingly employing uncertified personnel. WBRC in Birmingham reported that Smith’s second-in-command, Chief Deputy Ralph Williams, was also indicted on one count of providing false or misleading information to the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission (“APOSTC”). The indictment alleges Smith employed four school resource officers, a jailer, and a deputy—including Andrew Neves-McDonald, whose Arizona certification was suspended for misconduct and who appears on the National Decertification Index—without the mandatory APOSTC certification. Despite legal requirements for these positions, Smith allowed these individuals to carry firearms and badges. Legal experts say the charges, while misdemeanors carrying up to a $1,000 fine each, are a significant breach of protocol. On June 26, 2025, APOSTC announced its intent to revoke Smith’s and Williams’ law enforcement certifications, though Smith, as an elected official, can remain in office even if decertified. Smith’s tenure has also faced scrutiny over the 2023 death of detainee Tony Mitchell, with several employees pleading guilty to related charges and Smith named in a wrongful death lawsuit, raising further concerns about his leadership. Critics argue that Smith’s actions show a pattern of prioritizing personal hiring decisions over public safety and legal mandates.

Alabama: A federal jury found former Alabama State Trooper Michael Evans, 53, guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine on May 19, 2025, according to WSFA in Montgomery. Evans allegedly put his uniform and patrol vehicle to a new use, to secretly transport narcotics and not be caught. The conviction also includes Jim Carter Jr., 58, Francisco Lopez, 39, and Bryce Johnson, 38. The probe, initiated in 2023, revealed Carter’s repeated trips to Mexico to facilitate cocaine movement to Alabama. In June 2024, agents seized six kilograms during a delivery to Carter by Lopez. Carter and Lopez face 10 years to life while Evans and Johnson face up to 20 years. Five others have pleaded guilty to related charges in the investigation.

Arizona: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents mistakenly detained a U.S. Deputy Marshal within Tucson’s federal building in late May according to a June 5, 2025, report on Tucson.com. The mistaken arrest is indicative of the aggressive tactics of ICE’s current mission. The marshal, whose identity was quickly confirmed, fit a general description of a sought subject, and that shows how unrelenting the pressure is on ICE agents to increase arrests. The incident raises concerns about the potential for widespread mistaken detentions of ordinary citizens as ICE targets courthouses, often employing “bait-and-switch” tactics to apprehend immigrants attending their hearings. The ACLU of Arizona warns this aggressive approach prioritizes quotas over due process and public safety. Noah Schramm, policy strategist with the ACLU of Arizona, reacted to the mistaken arrest by saying that ICE “as an agency is under a lot of pressure from this administration to reach pretty high deportation numbers, and the tactics they’ve been employing reflect that.” 

Arizona: A former Maricopa County Attorney’s Office detective who worked on domestic violence cases was sentenced on June 19, 2025, to 19 years in prison for the murder of his wife. According to AZFamily (KTVK/KPHO), John C. Byrd III murdered his wife in their home while their three children were present. The children were not harmed. The judge imposed a lifetime no-contact ban for Byrd with his young children. The grim discovery unfolded on July 31, 2024, when officers, responding to a missing person report, found Byrd’s wife deceased on their bedroom floor. Investigators later located Byrd driving the victim’s vehicle. Following his Miranda warning, Byrd confessed to strangling his wife during a heated argument that morning, stating “a switch just flipped” in him. He cited recent mental health struggles and stress as contributing factors.

California: The nonprofit newsroom Open Vallejo reported that the Vallejo Police Department (“VPD”) faces explosive allegations of systematically concealing officer misconduct files and obstructing justice for citizens. Sworn statements in a June 11, 2025, filing from attorney Melissa Nold and former VPD Captain John Whitney claim the department maintained two separate filing systems since at least 2015 to hide misconduct complaints, particularly those resolved “informally.” Whitney, who headed the Professional Standards Division, testified that former Chief Andrew Bidou was aware of this practice. This alleged scheme prevented courts and litigants from accessing crucial records in civil rights and criminal cases, obstructing court processes. Informal complaints, often neglected by officers and allowed to go beyond disciplinary statutes of limitations, were hidden from public and legal view. This pattern of deception has severely impacted citizens. In 2019, Deyana Jenkins was dragged out of her car and tased by Vallejo officers Colin Eaton and Jordon Patzer after she failed to produce her driver’s license. Critics claim that VPD’s actions demonstrate a deep-seated culture of dodging accountability, including alleged evidence destruction in police shootings and withholding records related to in-custody deaths. 

California: A San Diego police officer faced a single conviction for domestic battery against his ex-girlfriend, with a jury delivering a mixed verdict on multiple other charges, according to NBC 7 San Diego. Seth Tate, 33, arrested in March 2024, was found guilty of one count of domestic battery on June 10, 2025. However, jurors acquitted him of two additional battery counts and were hung on two other domestic violence charges. Prosecutors, who described Tate as “jealous” and “erratic,” presented testimony detailing alleged assaults including kicks, forceful grabbing, and an incident where Tate allegedly slammed the victim’s head against a car window. The defense argued police failed to properly investigate, noting a lack of corroborating witnesses for most allegations and claiming Tate often acted in self-defense. Tate, a three-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, remained out of custody. It was uncertain if he would be retried on the hung counts.

Florida: Former Hialeah Police Chief Sergio Velazquez, 62, was arrested and charged with grand theft, organized fraud, and structuring bank deposits to evade reporting requirements on June 2, 2025, according to Reason. Velazquez is accused of embezzling public funds to finance a lavish lifestyle. Authorities allege Velazquez, who served as chief from 2012 to 2021, systematically stole from confidential police operations and court-ordered forfeitures. Investigators claim Velazquez made over 900 cash deposits, each under $10,000, into personal accounts to evade federal reporting requirements. Financial records reportedly revealed over $300,000 spent at Rolex, along with thousands at other luxury retailers like Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Versace. The alleged scheme came to light after discrepancies in seized funds were discovered by the new police chief following Velazquez’s 2021 suspension. Approximately $560,000 in funds are unaccounted for from the final five months of his tenure. Velazquez was granted bail of $30,000 after entering a not-guilty plea. A tentative trial date has been set for September 8, 2025. 

Hawai‘i: The ACLU of Hawai‘i filed a class-action lawsuit on May 29, 2025, against the Honolulu Police Department (“HPD”), alleging a widespread pattern of false DUI arrests. Lead plaintiff Ammon Fepuleai’s harrowing experience highlights the core of the complaint. In November 2023, Fepuleai, a non-drinker, was stopped at a sobriety checkpoint. Despite passing a field sobriety test and blowing a 0.00 on a breathalyzer, officers arrested him for suspected drug influence and fabricated details in their reports. His license was revoked before being reinstated. Fepuleai, deeply traumatized, now fears visiting Hawai‘i. The lawsuit claims officers are incentivized to make arrests regardless of probable cause, including being told they could go home and be paid for their full shift after making just one DUI arrest. The ACLU of Hawai‘i states it has identified at least 127 individuals arrested between 2022 and 2024 who tested 0.00 for blood alcohol content. Nearly 90 percent of these individuals were released without even a traffic ticket, with 97 percent not charged with impaired driving. HPD has since initiated refresher training for impaired driving enforcement, starting in May 2024, amid an ongoing review of arrests dating back to 2021.

Illinois: Former Chicago Police Officer Eric Tabb, 35, pleaded guilty on June 10, 2025, to two counts of aggravated battery in a public place, which stemmed from sexual misconduct incidents with female colleagues at the police academy and a precinct. Cook County Judge James B. Novy sentenced Tabb to 30 months’ probation and ordered sex offender programming. Tabb’s plea agreement dropped additional charges. Tabb’s case is part of a disturbing pattern uncovered by nonprofit newsrooms: Chicago police officials routinely downplay or ignore sexual misconduct allegations against officers. Investigative files revealed five of 17 women in Tabb’s academy class reported similar inappropriate contact. Tabb is one of 14 officers previously accused of sexual misconduct who were later accused of sexual assault. Victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing mentioned a betrayal of trust. While the judge cited closure for survivors as his reason for approving the plea deal, the outcome has drawn criticism, with one individual expressing disappointment that the issue isn’t being taken seriously. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s office praised the women’s courage and announced that Tabb is now barred from police service.

Kentucky: WAVE in Louisville reported that State Police Trooper James Cameron Wright, already under federal indictment for assault and perjury, now faces a new federal lawsuit alleging excessive force during a routine traffic stop. The suit was filed on June 16, 2025, by attorneys Garry Adams and David Ward of the Louisville law firm Adams, Landenwich, and Lay. Dawson Blevins is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and a jury trial. Blevins claims Wright needlessly pepper-sprayed and repeatedly tased him, causing spinal fractures during a June 2024 encounter that began over an alleged seatbelt violation. Body camera footage reportedly shows Blevins, a construction worker, complying with commands yet still subjected to a brutal use of force. This is the second recent federal lawsuit accusing Wright of using excessive force, and it points to a troubling pattern of misconduct. The March 2025 federal indictment separately charged Wright with unreasonable force against multiple individuals between 2021 and 2024 and perjury for allegedly lying under oath about a use-of-force incident. Despite these serious allegations and a pending criminal case, Wright’s employment status with KSP remains unclear. Wright was scheduled for a hearing in the U.S. District Court in Louisville on September 16, 2025.

Kentucky: Donald Kyle Deskins, a former assistant county attorney in Pike County, was sentenced on June 6, 2025, to five years in jail for evidence tampering connected to the April 2021 death of his wife, Judith Deskins. WYMT in Hazard reported that, despite maintaining his innocence through an Alford plea in May 2025, which allowed a murder charge to be dismissed without prejudice, Deskins conceded that a guilty verdict was likely. An indictment, issued in August 2023, accused Deskins of murdering his wife, who died from blunt force trauma. He was also accused of tampering with evidence at the scene and on his laptop. The sentencing by Circuit Judge Allison Wells in Perry County came despite the defense’s request for probation and emphasized the court’s view of Deskins’ culpability in concealing crucial information related to his wife’s death. 

Massachusetts: On June 6, 2025, a jury found former Hopkinton Police Deputy Chief John “Jay” Porter guilty of three counts of child rape. WBTS in Boston reported that the charges stemmed from assaults that occurred in 2004 and 2005 when Porter was a school resource officer, and the victim was a 15-year-old student at Hopkinton High School. Prosecutors asserted that Porter “abused his position of power to take advantage of and manipulate a child,” with assaults occurring off campus. The victim came forward 13 years after the incidents. Porter, who had served with the department since 1992, was placed on leave in 2022 and indicted in May 2023. He was sentenced to seven years in prison on June 23, 2025.

New Mexico: Former Albuquerque Police Officer Joshua Montaño, a central figure in the city’s widespread DWI corruption scheme, officially surrendered his law enforcement certification on June 12, 2025. According to KRQE in Albuquerque, the Law Enforcement Certification Board unanimously accepted a settlement that called for Montaño to relinquish his right to serve as an officer in New Mexico instead of having that right revoked. Montaño was among the first to plead guilty in federal court this past February to RICO conspiracy, bribery, and conspiracy to commit extortion. His involvement in the scheme included directing DWI suspects to a specific defense attorney’s office, promising case dismissal for a fee. This action marks the first time an officer linked to the scandal has lost his or her certification, with multiple officers entering plea deals in the ongoing federal investigation.

New York: The City, an independent nonprofit newsroom, reported that NYPD Chief of Department John Chell faces allegations of corruption and misconduct that have been outlined in a federal lawsuit filed by Giovonnie Mayo. Mayo, who sustained permanent brain damage after a May 2024 police pursuit, alleges Chell defamed him by falsely claiming he was armed. Attorney Cassandra Rohme, representing Mayo, expressed deep concern, stating, “Chell’s record indicates a failure to discipline NYPD officers to frankly a level that is extremely concerning.” Chell’s rise under Mayor Eric Adams, alongside disgraced Chief Jeffrey Maddrey, is under fire. A January 2024 Department of Investigation report criticized Chell’s “unprofessional” social media attacks on public figures. Moreover, six new complaints since early 2024 include allegations of Chell selling NYPD-branded paraphernalia and on-duty retaliation. Chell’s promotion to Chief of Department on New Year’s Eve 2024, following Maddrey’s sexual misconduct scandal, raises doubts about the NYPD’s leadership and internal accountability.

Ohio: Former Columbus Division of Police officer Nicholas P. Duty, 36, was sentenced on June 10, 2025, to 36 months in federal prison for destroying and altering records related to a criminal investigation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Ohio. Duty pleaded guilty in January to two counts of the felony charge. Court documents reveal Duty intentionally deactivated or removed his police body-worn camera on at least two occasions, aiming to obstruct a federal probe. Investigations were launched after concerns arose about Duty’s interactions with sex workers, identifying him via a blind photo array. Evidence confirmed Duty manipulated his camera on October 31, 2023, and March 22, 2024, during interactions with women, including a sexual encounter while he was on duty, in uniform, and in a marked police vehicle. Audio captured Duty soliciting sex and paying one woman $20 for oral sex. Further review of Duty’s devices exposed a pattern of seeking sex from vulnerable women, including crime victims and sex workers, while on patrol.

Ohio: Stephen Chinn, 41, a former Franklin County public defender, was sentenced on June 10, 2025, to eight years in federal prison for receiving and possessing child pornography. According to WSYX in Columbus, Chinn had pleaded guilty in August 2024 to the federal charges. Authorities initiated an investigation in 2023 after Chinn was flagged by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for uploading illicit child images. A subsequent search warrant executed at his Grandview Heights home uncovered over 4,000 illicit images on his computer. Chinn uploaded child sex abuse images that depicted young children engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including sex acts with adults and animals, according to the indictment. Forensic analysis revealed he downloaded much of the content from a Russian social media site known for child sexual abuse material. Chinn, initially arrested on local charges, was later federally indicted, with the federal case superseding the local matter.

Oklahoma: According to KJRH in Tulsa, Inola police officer Isaiah Roberts was arrested on May 28, 2025, in an idiotic turn of events. Rogers County deputies arrested the 35-year-old for allegedly pawning equipment belonging to the Inola Police Department. The arrest came after Roberts applied for a jail guard position with the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, prompting a background check that uncovered a history of pawning items, including an expensive night-vision scope owned by Inola PD. Roberts, who admitted to possessing the scope, now faces one count of embezzlement. Further investigation revealed a problematic personal history, including multiple driver’s license suspensions and overdue child support payments. Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton criticized the “flawed system” allowing individuals with such records to remain in law enforcement, and he said it was “insulting to him” that Roberts thought he could apply for a position with his agency without his background being checked. 

Tennessee: A federal judge sentenced ex-Knoxville Police Officer Dan Roark, 48, to 25 years in prison for conspiring to obtain and receiving over 40 child sexual abuse images from a Virginia mother beginning when the victim was just six years old. WBIR in Knoxville reported that Roark paid for the images, disguised his identity, and posed as a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer. U.S. District Judge Katherine Crytzer imposed the maximum sentence allowed under a plea agreement. Prosecutors emphasized Roark’s abuse of public trust and noted the abuse only stopped because he was caught. The victim, now 12, is in foster care. Roark will serve lifetime supervision upon release. The child’s mother is being prosecuted separately in Virginia.

Texas: Houston Metro Police Officer Gabriel Thomas Slusher, 28, was arrested on June 12, 2025, after he requested nude photos of an eight-year-old girl during an online investigation being conducted by the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office. According to KRIV in Houston, an undercover officer posed as a young mother with an eight-year-old daughter and began communicating with Slusher on Kik through his personal ad titled “Married Cop.” During those conversations Slusher revealed that he was into young girls and taboo relationships. He then sent photos of himself—some nude, some not. A lapse of judgement resulted in his downfall: Slusher sent a photo of himself in his police uniform showing his name badge. The undercover cop was able to search a law enforcement database with that information, and from there, the task force obtained his address, date of birth, past addresses and Slusher’s Texas driver’s license photo. Slusher was charged with attempt to commit sexual performance by a child under 14.

Utah: The Salt Lake City Police Department (“SLCPD”) has been operating a covert surveillance system for approximately nine years by allegedly drawing electricity from Rocky Mountain Power poles without payment. According to KSTU in Salt Lake City, concerned employees at the police department revealed to an investigative reporter that detectives have been disguising themselves as construction workers to connect cameras, with costs indirectly passed on to Utah ratepayers. While other agencies, like the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, have formal agreements with Rocky Mountain Power, SLCPD Chief Brian Redd described their arrangement as an “informal verbal agreement” that happened before he came onboard as chief in March 2025. Though the utility company seems unconcerned if cameras are safely installed for law enforcement purposes, customers are demanding reimbursement for unknowingly subsidizing the police department. Redd has promised transparency but admits the full extent of unpaid electricity usage is unknown.  

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