JAN. 2025. Blues Vol 41 No. 1

AROUND THE COUNTRYACROSS

AROUND THE COUNTRYACROSS THE USThe Latest Breaking News as we go LIVE.16-YEAR-OLD ARRESTEDAFTER S.C. POLICE K-9 SHOT,KILLED“I’m not going to call themkids, they don’t deserve that.They make very adult decisions,shooting at us, killing our dog,”said Richland County Sheriff LeonLottBy Noah FeitRICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. —Sheriff Lott is devastated to announcethe death of K9 Bumi inthe line of duty. Early this morning,K9 Bumi was shot and killedwhile tracking for two suspects.No other deputies were injured.One teenager was arrestedand there’s a search for twomore who are wanted followinga stolen car chase that endedearly Monday morning when apolice dog was shot and killed,according to the Richland CountySheriff’s Department.“The whole sheriff’s departmentis very sad that we lostone of our police dogs,” SheriffLeon Lott said Monday at a newsconference. “Very sad, but alsovery mad.”Lott said K9 Bumi was killed,becoming the department’s thirdpolice dog to die in the line ofduty this year. The departmentalso had another police dog that56 The BLUES - JANUARY ‘25survived being shoton the job, but had tomedically retire, accordingto Lott.“These dogs are outhere protecting thecommunity,” Lott said.CALIF. CITY AN-NOUNCES 0,000HIRING BONUS FORLATERAL POLICE OF-FICERSBy Police1 StaffFREMONT, CA. — TheCity of Fremont hasintroduced a 0,000signing bonus for upto 10 lateral policeofficer hires, making itone of the largest lawenforcement hiring incentivesin the nation,according to a newsrelease. This initiative significantlyexpands upon the city’sprevious ,000 signing bonusfor lateral officers.The incentive is part of abroader effort by the city toaddress a national decline inlaw enforcement applicantsand fill the department’s staffinggap, which currently stands at35 vacancies out of 205 swornpositions. Despite hiring 17 officersthis year and acceleratingrecruitment efforts, the citycontinues to face a challenginghiring market, with vacancy ratesfluctuating between 30 and 35officer positions.“Fremont is committed to offeringcompetitive compensationfor our employees,” said MayorRaj Salwan. “This new police lateralhiring incentive reflects ourdedication to attracting experi-

enced, high-caliber officers. Byinvesting in strategic solutions toaddress staffing challenges, weaim to contend with the currentpolice officer shortage in thishighly competitive hiring market.”In addition to the signingbonus, Fremont has rolled outseveral programs aimed atenhancing police recruitmentand retention. These include anexpedited hiring and trainingprogram for lateral officers, adouble-overtime pilot programand longevity pay for officerswith eight or more years ofservice. Over the past five years,the Fremont Police Officers Associationhas received a 30.5%salary increase, with additionalmid-contract retention benefitsrecently approved.The new hiring incentives comeas law enforcement agenciesnationwide grapple with recruitmentchallenges. According to a2024 survey by the InternationalAssociation of Chiefs of Police,70% of agencies report that recruitmentis more difficult nowthan five years ago, with manyoperating at nearly 10% belowauthorized staffing levels.The Fremont Police Departmentis currently hiring for multiplepositions, including policeofficer, dispatcher and recordssupervisor.ILLINOIS OFFICER SHOT MUL-TIPLE TIMES, BEATEN BY SUS-PECT DURING TRAFFIC STOPAn Illinois State Police trooperhas returned to duty, 11 monthsafter he was shot and beaten bya suspect during a traffic stop,WMAY reports.Trooper Dakotah Chapman-Greenspent two weeks inthe hospital and rehabilitationcenter following the shooting onOct. 24, 2023. He spent the restof his recovery at home beforereturning to full duty in September2024.The suspect, Cristobal Santana,has remained incarcerated inthe Sangamon County Jail sincethe shooting. He faces chargesof two counts of attemptedfirst-degree murder, one countof aggravated battery with afirearm to a police officer, onecount of aggravated battery toa police officer and one countof aggravated unlawful use of aweapon.Illinois State Police said Santanafired at least 10 shots atChampman-Green, hitting himseveral times. Santana alsostruck Champman-Green repeatedly,causing facial fractures, askull fracture and a brain bleed,police said.POLICE UNIONS CALL FORREMOVAL OF CITY MANAGERAFTER ALLEGED INTOXICATIONAT A PARTY LEADS TO SUS-PENSIONSBy Matthew HollowayJACKSBORO, TX- The citymanager of Jacksboro, Texas,Mike Smith, is facing calls forhis removal from office from theTexas Municipal Police Association(TMPA) and the JacksboroPolice Association “due to repeatedretaliation, poor leadership,and misconduct.”In a press release posted tosocial media, the TMPA allegedthat Smith dismissed two policeofficers and the Police Chief afterthe manager’s alleged intoxicationwas documented at a cityfunction on December 9th. Theincident is reportedly under investigationby The Texas Rangers.The release stated, “followingprotocol, one officer activatedher body camera and alerted aTexas DPS Trooper. These actionsadhered to department policy,and no laws or policies were violatedto justify their suspensionor the subsequent investigation.”In the Facebook post, the TMPAadded that Smith has also beenaccused of “unresolved officerpay issues and revoking benefitsout of retaliation.”The organizations have calledfor the Jacksboro mayor and citycouncil to “reconsider the employment”of Smith followingwhat they described as a patternof “questionable decisions, retaliatoryactions, and leadershipThe BLUES - JANUARY ‘25 57