Arizona: The family of 52-year-old Eric Baker is alleging lethal excessive force following his fatal encounter with Mesa police on April 4, 2026. According to KNXV in Phoenix, Mesa Police Department (MPD) officers stopped Baker for a bike light violation before attempting to execute an outstanding probation warrant. Witness cellphone videos captured the disturbing scene that followed as three officers pinned Baker to the ground while he pleaded for help, his face visibly bloodied. MPD Det. Jesse Macias acknowledged that “physical strikes and multiple Taser deployments” were used, adding “however, those efforts were initially ineffective.” Baker’s daughter, Charlee, said that her dad provided no provocation before he was “beaten to death.” Despite the fatality, the incident was not reviewed by any outside agency, and the officers involved have already returned to duty. The MPD’s Internal Affairs unit is currently reviewing the case, while the family is reportedly seeking legal accountability for Baker’s death.

California: Two former Rohnert Park Police Department (RPPD) cops were sentenced to short federal prison terms on May 6, 2026, for a lawless and years-long extortion campaign. According to SFGate, Brendan “Jacy” Tatum and Joseph Huffaker operated a drug interdiction team along Highway 101 that went rogue after the RPD shut it down, subjecting motorists to shakedowns in which they stole cash and cannabis with threats of arrest. The duo also falsified records, failing to document the seizures of stolen narcotics. After their specialized unit was disbanded, the pair wore plain clothes and impersonated federal ATF agents to carry out further armed robberies. Tatum alone laundered over $440,000 in illicit cash. Incredibly, he was sentenced to just 30 months in prison, while Huffaker got off with an even lighter sentenced of 20 months.

Florida: The Florida Highway Patrol arrested former Temple Terrace Police Department (TTPD) Off. Zachary Krug, 25, following a fatal high-speed collision that claimed the life of a six-year-old girl on April 15, 2026. WTVT in Tampa reported that Krug was traveling more than 100 mph in a 50-mph zone and was not engaged in any official law enforcement action at the time. Internal administrative probes confirmed that Krug violated TTPD policy and state law, leading to his immediate termination. The former officer now faces charges including vehicular homicide and three counts of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. He surrendered to authorities on April 30, 2026, and was granted release on a $90,000 bond by Hillsborough County Judge Christopher Sabella on May 5, 2026.

Georgia: WSB in Atlanta reported that former Barrow County Sheriff’s Office K-9 handler Ethan Breazzano, 29, was indicted on multiple felony charges on April 28, 2026, following a January incident in which he used his service weapon to strike the face of a suspect who had already surrendered and no longer posed a threat. Breazzano then ordered his K-9 partner to bite the victim twice. After he was fired by Sheriff Jud Smith on February 24, the state Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) Council suspended Breazzano’s certification, effectively ending his law enforcement career. Following his indictment, he posted a $5,000 bond and was released from custody. The K-9 remains in service with a new handler.

Hawaii: Honolulu Police Department (HPD) Off. Christopher John Oallesma, 26, was indicted on April 28, 2026, on eight counts of sexual assault that allegedly occurred while he was on duty and in uniform earlier in the month, according to KGMB/KHNL/KKVE in Honolulu. It was after a Waikiki traffic stop on April 6 that the victim said he followed her to a hotel and inside her room to attack her. For using coercion and fraud in an attempt to silence her, he was also charged with official misconduct and obstruction of justice. Oallesma was released from custody on $150,000 bail, subject also to a no-contact order with both the victim in the alleged assault and witnesses. HPD has moved to strip him of his police powers.

Hawaii: Another HPD cop, Off. Kelsey Messmer, 31, was the subject of a default judgment entered in Honolulu Circuit Court on April 13, 2026, after she repeatedly evaded legal service and failed to appear for a critical hearing, KGMB/KHNL/KKVE in Honolulu reported. Messmer and retired Sgt. Darren Cachola spent months dodging process servers and certified mailings related to a class action lawsuit filed by the state chapter of the America Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The suit alleges that the officers conducted wrongful DUI arrests of drivers who recorded 0.00 percent breathalyzer results. After it was filed, the defendants’ evasion was so persistent that the ACLU was forced to serve them via newspaper advertisements. While Cachola eventually appeared in court, Messmer did not, leading Judge Kevin Morikone to rule her in default – meaning the civil rights violations alleged in the suit will now be treated as legally true. She remains employed by the HPD while on long-term leave from the Traffic Division.

Kansas: On April 13, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit vacated the sentence of Jordan Thompson, a former officer in Kansas’ Galena Police Department, ruling that the trial court erroneously held him to a higher standard because of his occupation. As reported by The Topeka Capital-Journal, Thompson was convicted in September 2024 of assault with a dangerous weapon for a November 2023 domestic violence incident at Fort Riley, where he abducted his daughter at gunpoint from his estranged wife and an unnamed soldier, triggering an Amber Alert. District Judge Toby Crouse sentenced Thompson to 24 months in prison, citing his prior law enforcement status as an aggravating factor. But while employment history is relevant, the Tenth Circuit ruled that a defendant cannot be punished more severely just for being a cop who “knew better,” absent proof that he abused his official position to facilitate the crime. The case was remanded for resentencing to the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

Maryland: Former Baltimore Police Department (BPD) Sgt. Wayne Jenkins, the convicted ringleader of its corrupt Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF), is seeking an early release from his 25-year prison sentence, according to WJZ in Baltimore. Jenkins was incarcerated in 2018 on racketeering and related charges for using the GTTF to rob citizens, plant evidence, and falsify official reports, stealing and distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars in narcotics. His criminal conduct also caused a fatal 2010 car crash. Petitioning a federal judge for a sentence reduction on April 27, 2026, Jenkins claimed that he had been subjected to multiple attacks behind bars in his Kentucky federal prison, arguing that placement there violated an implicit agreement made with the Department of Justice (DOJ) when he cooperated in an extensive federal investigation targeting fellow BPD officers and other government officials. Two fellow former GTTF officers received an early release in 2022. The federal judge overseeing Jenkins’ case set a June 2026 deadline for the DOJ to respond to the petition.

Michigan: On April 23, 2026, a jury found former Melvindale Police Department (MPD) Lt. Matthew Furman guilty of felony misconduct in office and misdemeanor assault and battery, for repeatedly attacking a hapless motorist with a Taser set to painful “drive stun” mode during a July 2024 traffic stop, WXYZ in Detroit reported. Furman testified that his use of force was “within policy,” but he entered a no-contest plea to the charges. He was acquitted in a separate 2024 tasing incident involving a mother outside a school. Defense attorney Dennis Whittie indicated after the verdict that his client had taken up farming since he was fired from the MPD, whose Chief Chris Egan said that the former cop’s actions “shocked the conscience.”

Minnesota: Former Hill City Police Department (HCPD) Off. Jordan Zempel, 35, was charged on May 18, 2026, with sexually assaulting an unnamed 17-year-old, KSTPin St. Paul reported. Zempel faces third-degree criminal sexual conduct charges for a series of predatory encounters in late 2025, when he reportedly manipulated the teenager by boasting about his firearms, badge, and police connections, telling her she “can’t say no to him.” The criminal complaint alleged that Zempel brandished a firearm before restraining the victim in handcuffs and sexually assaulting her, all while in full uniform. Zempel resigned from the HCPD in March 2026.

Mississippi: Former Reservoir Police (RP) Off. Rodney Jernigan, 28, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child exploitation on May 19, 2026, the Clarion Ledger reported. Authorities discovered his online solicitations in July 2024, asking an unnamed 13-year-old victim for sexually explicit photos and videos. While out on bond after his arrest following that incident, he then contacted another minor out-of-state via social media, triggering a new child enticement charge. State Circuit Court Judge Stanley Sorey ordered Jernigan to serve his full two-decade term without the possibility of parole, followed by 20 years of probation and mandatory sex offender registration. The RP is the law enforcement agency for the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District; the waterway separates Rankin County, which is 72% White, from Hinds County, which is 72% Black. A joint investigation by the New York Times and Mississippi Today exposed a string of assaults on Black men conducted over the course of two decades by a “goon squad” of deputies of Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey. Five of them pleaded guilty to assault charges in August 2023. Two of their victims, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, won a $2.5 million settlement from the County in May 2025. Bailey was also accused of coercing unpaid labor on his family chicken farm from detainees in the county jail.

Missouri: Former Missouri Highway Patrol (MHP) trooper David McKnight, 40, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison on April 28, 2026, for civil rights violations stemming from a year-long string of traffic stops that he staged to furtively steal intimate photos from victims’ cellphones, using them for his own sexual gratification. According to KZRG in Joplin, the pervy cop got the victims to relinquish the devices by falsely claiming he needed them to verify identification or insurance information, during traffic stops conducted between September 2023 and August 2024. Once he had a device to himself, he scoured it for private folders containing nude or revealing photos, using his own cellphone to copy the images. An FBI investigation sparked by victims’ suspicions resulted in charges on nine counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, to which McKnight pleaded guilty in December 2025. A lawsuit is being mounted on behalf of his victims, according to attorneys with Pleban & Assoc. in St. Louis.

Missouri: Another MHP trooper was indicted on April 30, 2026, KMBC in Kansas City reported. Cpl. Charles “Nate” Bradley, 51, was accused of taking bribes from shady tow truck operators to let them impound stolen vehicles outside of the state’s official system; when owners then tried to recover their property, they faced exorbitant fees or risked losing their vehicles altogether. Bradley was also accused of pocketing a stolen necklace valued at $25,000 that was recovered after a burglary, rather than processing it as evidence. He self-surrendered on May 15 to face the charges, which include 10 counts of tampering with evidence, one count of acceding to corruption by a public servant, one count of stealing ($25,000 or more), and one count of first-degree property damage. He was then released on a $30,000 bond. Ironically, Bradley was formally honored in 2023 for recovering over 300 stolen vehicles during auto-theft investigations – the same vehicles that prosecutors now allege he used to shake down their oweners in the corrupt towing scheme. He is currently on unpaid administrative leave from MHP.

Ohio: On May 7, 2026, former Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) Dep. Jason Meade was found guilty of reckless homicide in the 2020 shooting death of 23-year-old Casey Goodson, Jr. The New York Times reported that the fatal confrontation occurred in Columbus as Goodson was returning home from a Subway with sandwiches for his family. That’s when Meade, who was part of a U.S. Marshals Task Force looking for a fugitive, claimed to see Goodson waving a firearm. Goodson’s family maintained that he was simply trying to enter his grandmother’s house with his keys in the door when he was shot in the back. Though jurors acquitted Meade of the most serious charge of murder, they returned the guilty verdict for reckless homicide, a third-degree felony. The case had suffered a mistrial in early 2024 when the jury could not reach a unanimous decision. Judge David Young scheduled sentencing for July 2026, when Meade, who is also a Baptist pastor, faces up to five years in prison.

Ohio: Imprisoned former attorney Adam Stone, 42, filed for judicial release on April 20, 2026, alleging that an improper relationship between his trial judge and an assistant prosecutor tainted his sentencing. According to WBNS in Columbus, Stone was convicted of telecommunications fraud and attempting to impersonate a peace officer while defrauding victims who had hired him to file a wrongful death lawsuit following the death of their son. Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Judge James Schuck ordered him to serve the maximum four-and-a-half-year sentence in August 2025. But in newly uncovered text messages, Schuck, 50, engaged in late-night communications with the assistant prosecutor assigned to Stone’s case, making derogatory remarks about Stone and his defense counsel. Compounding the scandal, Judge Schuck has been on voluntary leave since November 2025 amid an active investigation into allegations by that same assistant prosecutor that he pressured her for sex. The unnamed 25-year-old attorney obtained a protective order when she filed a civil suit accusing Schuck of stalking in March 2026. She resigned effective May 11 in anticipation of the judge’s return from leave.

Oklahoma: The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office terminated and arrested Dep. Andrew Etcheverry on May 1, 2026, following a violent assault on a detainee at the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center. According to reporting from KOTV in Tulsa, the incident occurred while Etcheverry was assisting guards on April 26; when the unnamed detainee bit Etcheverry’s hand, the deputy retaliated by punching the handcuffed victim several times. Etcheverry was hired as a guard in 2023 and was promoted to deputy in 2024. 

Pennsylvania: Sharon Hill Police Department (SHPD) Det. Vincent Procopio, 34, and Off. Domenic Dellabarba, 27, were indicted on criminal charges on April 23, 2026, WPSG in Philadelphia reported. An investigation by the office of state Attorney General Dave Sunday (R) revealed that Procopio traded sensitive investigative intelligence to a drug dealer in exchange for cocaine. Specifically, Procopio was accused of warning the dealer about active investigations and identifying confidential informants. Dellabarba allegedly helped the same dealer evade capture by monitoring active warrants. Procopio’s felony charges include drug possession with intent to deliver, bribery, and tampering with evidence. Dellabarba is charged with obstructing the administration of law, hindering apprehension, tampering with evidence, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use a computer. Both were placed on paid leave after warrants were served in February. Procopio then resigned just before the charges were filed, at which point Dellabarba was also suspended without pay.

Texas: KDFW in Dallas reported that Godley Police Department (GPD) Chief Matthew Cantrell was hit with new charges of engaging in organized criminal activity on April 27, 2026. He was initially arrested on April 2, 2026, for promotion of prostitution and engaging in organized criminal activity. An investigation found that Cantrell abused his official authority for over a decade to harass an unnamed victim, reportedly directing subordinate officers to conduct pretextual traffic stops to intimidate her. The corruption extended to Cantrell’s mother, Regina Cantrell, who was also arrested for misuse of official information; a former Johnson County Jail guard, she allegedly utilized her position to monitor arrest warrants for her son before a tactical raid on his residence. The disgraced Chief is being held on a $500,000 bond.

Texas: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Chief Michael Banks, 53, resigned on May 14, 2026. Though officially tied to a broader leadership shakeup to kickstart the stalled mass deportation effort of Pres. Donald J. Trump (R), Banks’ resignation landed amid disturbing accusations of systematic sex tourism; according to the Washington Examiner, six current and former employees revealed that he repeatedly traveled to Colombia and Thailand and paid for sex with impoverished women, bragging to subordinates about his exploits. In the process, he was directly furthering the very exploitation and trafficking crimes that the CPB is tasked with combating. Two separate internal affairs investigations into Banks’ behavior were launched to uphold the agency’s “Honor First” motto while he headed up the CPB’s Rio Grande Valley sector in southeastern Texas. But both were abruptly shut down when former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem took the helm at the CPB’s parent agency in 2025. That cleared the way for Banks’ promotion to national chief. Noem, meanwhile, was fired by Trump in March 2026 as criticism mounted over the jackbooted tactics used against migrants by CPB agents and those employed by another DHS subagency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Vermont: Former Rutland Police Department (RPD) Sgt. Andrew Plemmons, 47, received a remarkably lenient sentence on May 4, 2026, for shooting and wounding two unarmed motorists. According to VT Digger, Plemmons initially faced up to 16 years in prison on felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, stemming from a 2023 encounter in which he repeatedly fired into a fleeing vehicle. Prosecutors called it unjustified, but they then let him strike a deal to reduce his criminal liability with a guilty plea to a single misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment. As a result, Plemmons was sentenced to just two years of probation and 100 hours of community service, guaranteeing he will serve zero jail time for the double shooting. He also collected a year and a half of paid administrative leave after he was charged in October 2024. He resigned from the RPD before sentencing.  

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