LEAP

Police leaders can't ignore abusive immigration enforcement any longer - Maryland Matters Increasingly aggressive tactics of federal immigration authorities demand a response from local police and police organizations that champion ethics, transparency and bias-free policing, writes Karl B...

‘Police leaders can’t ignore abusive immigration enforcement any longer’

By Karl W. Bickel - Department of Justice (Ret.)

marylandmatters.org/2026/02/15/p...

Baltimore Drug Users Want Safe Supply, Know How It Should Look - Filter People who use drugs in Baltimore, overwhelmingly support prescribed safe supply programs, according to new research. Published in the International ...

“People who use drugs in Baltimore, overwhelmingly support prescribed safe supply programs, according to new research. Published in the International Journal of Drug Policy”

filtermag.org/baltimore-dr...

News/Press Release.

We renew the calls for independent oversight and scrutiny surrounding the incidents in Minneapolis. Please read in full:

Data Analysis Program Specialist, Alternatives to Policing / Justice Reform / Community Responders - Job Law Enforcement Action Partnership (Criminal Justice Reform) is now hiring for the position of Data Analysis Program Specialist, Alternatives to Policing / Justice Reform / Community Responders in Bev...

We are hiring! This is your chance to be part of one of the most exciting projects that we are building here at LEAP. The Community Responder Program is looking for a data analyst. Full details here:

www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit...

Police and public health officials partner up in Winthrop The CLEAR program in Winthrop is a way to detour people away from a jail cell in certain cases and direct them to more appropriate resources.

“The CLEAR program in Winthrop is a way to detour people away from a jail cell in certain cases and direct them to more appropriate resources.”

LEAP Speaker and serving police officer Sarko Gergerian featured and quoted:

www.nbcboston.com/news/local/w...

See the attached for full press release.

‘DOJ Probe of Alex Pretti Shooting Insufficient to Restore Public Confidence, Warns Law Enforcement Group’

Michigan Senate hearing on ICE accountability bills features emotional testimony, fiery debate • Michigan Advance Community leaders and advocates urged legislators to pass a set of bills seeking to limit the actions of federal immigration agents in a charged hearing of the Michigan Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary ...

“former Detroit Police Chief, and Ted Nelson, a retired Michigan State Police officer with the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, both emphasized in their respective testimonies that the use of masks and force by ICE agents was not normal protocol…”

michiganadvance.com/2026/01/29/m...

NJ May Expand Civil Commitment to Anyone Accused of Recent Overdose - Filter New Jersey legislators are considering a proposal to require involuntary commitment for any overdose survivors revived by law enforcement. It ...

“New Jersey legislators are considering a proposal to require involuntary commitment for any overdose survivors revived by law enforcement.”

filtermag.org/new-jersey-i...

Will you be our next valued team member? We’re looking for a new member of staff who’ll take on the role of ‘Development Marketing & Donor Engagement Associate’

Please see more here: bit.ly/WorkWithLEAP

Maryland Scrubs the Term "Harm Reduction" From Key Grant Program - Filter The Maryland Department of Health has scrubbed any mention of “harm reduction” from the state’s leading grant program for organizations ...

“The Maryland Department of Health has scrubbed any mention of “harm reduction” from the state’s leading grant program for organizations that provide care to people…”

filtermag.org/maryland-scr...

Partners Announced for Texas Ibogaine Research Consortium Funding - Lucid News The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has announced $50 million in awards to a collective of public universities across the state to establish the Texas Ibogaine Research Consortium.

‘Partners Announced for Texas Ibogaine Research Consortium Funding’

www.lucid.news/partners-ann...

Fear undermines public safety — naming it is not politics Public safety is undermined when fear eclipses trust.

“As chief of police, my responsibility is to ensure that Minneapolis residents feel safe enough to seek help when they need it, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, or skin color.“

thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/thehill....

“Law enforcement policy should always be about using the least amount of force and preserving people’s lives…”

You’ll be aware of the tragic incident in Minneapolis, LEAP’s ED Lt Diane Goldstein (Ret.) was invited to speak to USA TODAY about the impacts.

www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Do supervised consumption sites bring increased crime? Study suggests that’s a myth Overdose prevention sites and supervised consumption sites in Toronto are not associated with long-term increases in local crime, McGill University researchers have found. Over 10 years, crime reports...

‘Do supervised consumption sites bring increased crime? Study suggests that’s a myth’

Important article which looks at new data, confirming what many people who are on the ground already know… safe sites = safer communities for all.

www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/cha...

From Nixon to Trump, the 'War on Drugs' has been a disaster for Americans' freedom The Trump administration's chest-pounding approach is costing lives and eroding freedoms.

An historical look at the ‘War on Drugs’ and how it looks in conjunction with today’s picture.

What can we learn from the past? What better ways are there for us all?

reason.com/2025/12/26/f...

Lieutenant Diane Goldstein (Ret.), Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership. “People must be able to go to class, see a doctor, or attend religious services without fearing an immigration raid.“

FJP and Law Enforcement Officials Warn That DHS Policy Allowing Immigration Enforcement in Houses of Worship Endangers Community Trust and Undermines Public Safety - Fair and Just Prosecution Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP), joined by the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to halt immigration enforcement ...

“As law enforcement professionals, we know public safety depends on trust and cooperation. Allowing immigration enforcement in places like schools, hospitals, and houses of worship destroys that trust, making it harder for us to keep communities safe,”

fairandjustprosecution.org/press-releas...

We voice concerns over the recent developments and ‘classification’.

Trump brands fentanyl a ‘weapon of mass destruction’ in drug war escalation Order classifies opioid as potential chemical weapon amid administration’s attempts to combat drug smuggling

Fentanyl is being declared as a “weapon of mass destruction”. No one denies the sheer impact of this substance on society, many of us have seen the effects firsthand, but we have to be mindful and dutiful in our approach.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Stephen Downing, Police Officer Who Wrote for TV, Dies at 87

New York Times:

‘Stephen Downing, Police Officer Who Wrote for TV, Dies at 87’

“While serving in the L.A.P.D., he began delivering scripts for series like “Dragnet” and “Adam-12.” After retiring, he was a showrunner for “MacGyver.””

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/a...

NJ May Expand Civil Commitment to Anyone Accused of Recent Overdose - Filter New Jersey legislators are considering a proposal to require involuntary commitment for any overdose survivors revived by law enforcement. It ...

“New Jersey legislators are considering a proposal to require involuntary commitment for any overdose survivors revived by law enforcement.”

filtermag.org/new-jersey-i...

Why Member States must rebalance the EU drug strategy – before it’s too late The European Commission's new Drug Strategy promotes a worrying security-driven 'drug threat' narrative that fails to prioritise health and human rights over punishment.

‘Why Member States must rebalance the EU drug strategy – before it’s too late’ via @idpc.net

idpc.net/blog/2025/12...

Operation Southern Spear: Why the Crews, Drugs, and Boats are Not Targetable A deep dive on the international law applicable to the U.S. military's lethal operations against suspected drug boats

“Taken together, there is no justification under either international human rights law, the correct legal framework, or the law of armed conflict, the wrong one, to target the boats or the people on board.”

www.justsecurity.org/126553/opera...

We had such a wonderful conversation with Jaret from Bowling for Soup about his role on the board member of the fantastic organization Punk Rock Saves Lives.

Listen to this episode of Stop and Search in full:

pod.fo/e/35624b

The New Federal Hemp Ban Is An Opportunity To Legalize Cannabis Across The Board (Op-Ed) - Marijuana Moment “Millions of Americans in red states are about to lose access to cannabis, and I intend to ensure that they know it.” By Adam Terry, Cantrip This is the moment—2026 is our last, best chance to actuall...

‘The New Federal Hemp Ban Is An Opportunity To Legalize Cannabis Across The Board’ (Op-Ed)

www.marijuanamoment.net/the-new-fede...

US attacks in Caribbean and Pacific violate international human rights law – UN Human Rights Chief GENEVA – Airstrikes by the United States of America on boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific – allegedly linked to drug trafficking – violate international human rights law, UN High Commissioner for ...

‘US attacks in Caribbean and Pacific violate international human rights law – UN Human Rights Chief’

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Opinion | Trump's unprecedented global expansion of the drug war The Trump administration attacking boats in the Caribbean is a costly distraction meant to project toughness while masking its role in worsening the crisis at home.

My latest co-authored pice with Major Neill Franklin of @policeforreform.bsky.social

‘The administration’s war on drugs is turning out to be worse than the first one’

“The administration attacking boats in the Caribbean is a costly distraction…”

msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...

Pittsburgh Public Safety redesigns program that sends social workers to emergency scenes A Pittsburgh public safety program that dispatched social workers alongside police to assist with mental health emergencies is undergoing a major overhaul.

‘Pittsburgh Public Safety redesigns program that sends social workers to emergency scenes’

“Public safety is more than showing up to a scene with a badge and gun” - Former Police Chief Tom Thompson, LEAP Speaker.

www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

US kills 14 in strikes on four alleged drug boats - BBC News Mexico's navy is searching for the sole survivor of the latest attack on boats the US says were carrying drugs in both the Pacific and Caribbean.

Military action intensifies:

‘US kills 14 in strikes on four alleged drug boats in Pacific’

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The traffickers are winning the war on drugs New decentralised networks are even harder to disrupt than the hierarchical gangs they have replaced

‘The traffickers are winning the war on drugs’

“New decentralised networks are even harder to disrupt than the hierarchical gangs they have replaced”

www.economist.com/briefing/202...