Drone Threat Mitigation and UAV Deployment: The Next Tactical Frontier in American Policing

Drones have become one of the most disruptive forces in modern policing. Once considered recreational gadgets, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) now occupy the same tactical significance as radios, patrol cars, and body-worn cameras. They represent both a powerful tool for law enforcement and a growing threat exploited by criminals, cartels, and hostile actors. As agencies move deeper into 2026, drone threat mitigation and UAV deployment have shifted from optional skillsets to essential operational competencies.

The Expanding Airborne Threat

In recent years, criminal misuse of drones has grown rapidly. The Department of Homeland Security reports that drones have been used to drop contraband into correctional facilities, conduct surveillance of police activity, and attempt to disrupt critical infrastructure. Border authorities have documented cartel-operated drones conducting reconnaissance and moving narcotics across the Southwest border.

Off-the-shelf quadcopters, racing-style FPV drones, and autonomous GPS-guided models are now inexpensive, powerful, and easy to modify. Many can carry payloads, stream encrypted video, or maneuver at speeds and angles that make detection difficult. For patrol officers and tactical teams, this means the airspace above them has become a new vulnerability—one criminals can exploit without ever being physically present.

Understanding Criminal Drone Tactics

Criminal and extremist groups have studied police response patterns and increasingly use drones in ways that complicate officer safety and operations. Common applications include reconnaissance of tactical positions, surveillance during warrant service, real-time streaming of officer movements to aid in escape or ambush, contraband drops to jails and prisons, and harassment or intimidation during public events.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has also warned that drones could be used to deploy hazardous materials, ignite fires, or drop small explosive devices. While such incidents remain rare in the United States, international case studies show a clear trajectory: hostile drone activity tends to expand as technology becomes cheaper and more capable.

Tactical Risks to Officers

The presence of a drone above a crime scene or tactical operation introduces several immediate risks. Drones can compromise positions by revealing the location of officers preparing for entry. They can monitor approach routes, document vehicle movements, or beam video to an accomplice nearby. FPV drones—high-speed first-person-view aircraft—can rapidly close distance on officers with little warning and may be equipped with improvised payloads.

Beyond physical risk, hostile drones create operational noise: distractions, uncertainty, and information gaps that slow decision-making. For command staff, the difficulty lies in determining whether a drone is merely recreational, opportunistic, or part of a coordinated threat.

Legal Boundaries and Authority Limits

One of the most significant challenges for police agencies is the legal framework. Most counter-drone tactics, including signal jamming, GPS interference, or physically disabling a drone, are prohibited under federal law except for a limited set of federal agencies.

Local and state police cannot shoot down drones, jam them, or interfere with their signals unless operating under specific federal authorization. This legal reality means that the majority of counter-drone responses must focus on detection, documentation, repositioning, and coordination with federal partners such as the FBI or DHS.

Understanding FAA regulations, airspace classifications, and lawful deployment of police-owned drones is now a basic competency for any department operating a UAV program.

Detection, Tracking, and Identification

The most realistic drone mitigation tools available to local law enforcement focus on detection and identification. Agencies across the United States are adopting RF scanners, acoustic sensors, radar systems tailored for low-altitude detection, and thermal imaging to identify drones in restricted areas. Some systems allow agencies to track the signal back to the operator, enabling ground teams to locate and detain the individual controlling the device.

Visual detection remains valuable but limited. Drones designed with dark exteriors, low profiles, or high-speed maneuverability can evade officers’ sight, especially during night operations.

Building a Department UAV Capability

While drones pose a threat, they also provide transformative capability for officers. Agencies large and small have adopted UAVs to support search and rescue operations, crime scene mapping, disaster response, vehicle pursuits, barricaded-suspect incidents, and SWAT overwatch.

Research by public safety organizations shows that drones reduce officer risk by allowing aerial observation before entry, improve situational awareness during high-risk calls, and provide thermal imaging capabilities that previously required aviation support units.

Departments launching UAV programs must address several core components: pilot certification, night-operation training, thermal imaging proficiency, pre-flight planning, emergency procedures, and integration with manned aircraft when helicopters are present.

Policies, SOPs, and Community Trust

Public acceptance of police drone programs relies heavily on clear policy. Transparent guidelines on flight purpose, privacy protections, data retention, and footage use are essential to maintaining trust. Agencies that publicly articulate their safeguards tend to face fewer complaints and less resistance to drone deployment.

Community engagement—public demonstrations, town halls, and informational campaigns—remains one of the most effective means of ensuring that UAV operations are seen as safety-enhancing rather than surveillance-driven.

Scenario-Based Training

Because drone threats are dynamic, scenario-based training is critical. Tactical teams must rehearse hostile drone encounters, simulate drone surveillance during a warrant service, practice repositioning to conceal movements, and integrate their own drones for overwatch. Departments that treat drone tactics as an afterthought risk being outmaneuvered by criminals who have embraced the technology more aggressively.

Preparing for the Air Threat of 2026

The airspace above police operations has become an active domain of concern. Criminal drone use will expand, not contract. Police UAV usage will grow more complex, not less. Agencies that develop disciplined, well-trained UAV programs and adopt defensive counter-drone awareness will be best positioned to protect officers and communities.

Drone threat mitigation is no longer futuristic. It is the new tactical frontier of modern policing.

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References

Department of Homeland Security. (2024). Impact of artificial intelligence on criminal and illicit activities. Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2022). Unmanned aircraft systems: Emerging threats and homeland security challenges.

Federal Aviation Administration. (2023). Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) regulation summary.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (2023). Border security report: Unmanned aerial vehicles used in transnational criminal activity.

National Institute of Justice. (2022). Drones in law enforcement: Benefits, challenges, and best practices.

International Association of Chiefs of Police. (2023). Considerations for unmanned aircraft systems in public safety operations.

Counter Ambush Training Must Be Central to Law-Enforcement Preparedness

When two members of the West Virginia National Guard were ambushed near the White House on November 26, 2025, and one later died from his injuries, the United States was confronted with a stark reminder: even uniformed personnel on duty in the nation’s capital are vulnerable to sudden, violent attack. Reporting from Reuters described the shooting as a “targeted ambush,” carried out with a .357-magnum revolver against soldiers performing a high-visibility patrol near Farragut West. The incident underscores the escalating threat of surprise attacks against law-enforcement and military personnel and demonstrates the need for counter-ambush training as a core element of modern policing and security preparedness.

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A Stark Reminder in the Heart of Washington

According to multiple reports, the attack occurred without warning, and the assailant fled before being apprehended. One Guardsman died within hours; another was critically injured. Official statements characterized the assault as a deliberate ambush intended to take the patrol by surprise. The event, occurring blocks from the White House, highlights a troubling fact: familiarity of surroundings or symbolic visibility does not equate to safety. The evolving nature of ambush attacks — often involving lone actors, concealed movement, and rapid violence — requires law-enforcement agencies to prepare for extreme unpredictability.

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Why Counter-Ambush Training Is Essential

Ambush Attacks Remain a Leading Cause of Officer Fatalities

For decades, ambushes have represented a disproportionate share of law-enforcement deaths. Research published through the National Institute of Justice shows that many officers killed in the line of duty were taken by surprise, struck before they could react, or attacked while responding to routine calls. Training literature across policing institutions reinforces the same idea: ambush survival requires more than firearms proficiency — it requires instinctive, practiced responses to sudden threats.

Speed, Reaction, and Tactical Confidence

Counter-ambush training programs such as Counter Ambush Response (C.A.R.) teach officers to recognize pre-attack indicators, utilize available cover, communicate under fire, and rapidly move or return fire when necessary. These programs stress that ambushes unfold in seconds. Officers must learn to process, react, and move instinctively. Tactical trainers emphasize that hesitation in an ambush event is often fatal; drilled muscle memory is critical to survival.

Ambush Threats Are Expanding Across Contexts

While historically associated with criminal violence or targeted attacks on patrol officers, ambushes now appear across a wider range of scenarios: foot patrols, protective details, vehicle stops, and high-visibility deployments like those carried out by the National Guard in Washington. As threats diversify, counter-ambush preparation must likewise expand. Law-enforcement officers, guardsmen, and federal agents all face the possibility of sudden aggression — whether for ideological, personal, or opportunistic motives.

Protecting Officers Also Protects the Public

Each ambush not only endangers officers but shakes public confidence, disrupts community safety efforts, and erodes morale across police and military communities. Well-prepared officers are better able to protect themselves and those around them. Comprehensive ambush training demonstrates institutional commitment to officer safety and community security.

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What Counter-Ambush Training Should Include

Effective counter-ambush training should be mandatory and comprehensive. Core elements include:

• Recognition of ambush setups such as linear ambushes, L-shaped ambushes, and confined-space attacks.

• Immediate action drills, emphasizing cover, concealment, communication, and movement.

• Scenario-based training that replicates real-world unpredictability.

• Vehicle-related ambush training, as many assaults occur during traffic stops or while approaching a vehicle.

• Integrated medical training, including tourniquet use and life-saving interventions, given the frequency of critical injuries in ambush events.

• Regular refreshers and after-action reviews to prevent skill degradation and complacency.

These components are consistent across programs offered by law-enforcement academies, tactical instruction centers, and federal training entities.

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A National Priority, Not a Local Option

The 2025 Washington, D.C., ambush should be viewed as a national signal — not an isolated anomaly. Threats to law-enforcement and military personnel are evolving faster than many agencies’ training models. Ambush attacks are increasing in sophistication, speed, and lethality. A single officer’s lack of preparation can escalate to catastrophic outcomes for the broader community.

By making counter-ambush training a required, recurring component of law-enforcement certification and in-service training, agencies can significantly reduce avoidable fatalities. This is not a matter of tactical preference but of moral responsibility.

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Conclusion

The lethal ambush of National Guard members near the White House illustrates an uncomfortable truth: no deployment setting is immune to sudden violence. Law-enforcement and military agencies must respond by institutionalizing counter-ambush training as a fundamental requirement of modern policing and security operations. Lives depend on preparedness. The nation depends on the men and women who serve. Their training must reflect the realities of the threats they face.

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References

Belotto, A. (n.d.). Counter-Ambush Tactics for Patrol Officers. National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice.

Douglas, L., Winter, J., & Stewart, P. (2025, November 26). National Guard soldiers shot in ‘targeted’ attack near White House. Reuters.

Miami Dade College Justice & Safety Training Center. (n.d.). Counter Ambush Response (C.A.R.) Training Program.

TI Training. (2025). Police Ambush Tactics and Survival Strategies.

Wolfe, D. (2017). Police Ambush Attacks: Four Strategies for Survival. Police1 Research Center.

Sigsauer Academy. (n.d.). Counter Ambush Tactics for Law Enforcement.

Center for Justice & Intelligence Training (CJI). (n.d.). Counter-Ambush Tactics Course Overview.

Polishing the Ashlar: How Modern Policing Is Confronting Its Rough Edges

In Freemasonry, the movement from Rough Ashlar to Perfect Ashlar is the story of a life: a common stone, chosen for its potential, gradually shaped into something that can bear weight in a sacred structure. As The Temple Within explains, “The Rough Ashlar represents potential and possibility, while the Perfect Ashlar embodies the fulfillment of that potential through deliberate and disciplined action.” This transformation mirrors the work of modern policing, where agencies across the nation are beginning to acknowledge their rough edges—cultural, ethical, procedural—and engaging in the deliberate labor of refinement.

Over the past year, two concrete developments illustrate how policing institutions are engaging in what Masons would call “ashlar work”: the Louisville Metro Police Department’s federal consent decree and the national expansion of scenario-based de-escalation training. These efforts, though different in scale, reveal the same underlying truth: meaningful reform requires the courage to face imperfection and the discipline to reshape it.

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The Masonic Blueprint: Rough Ashlar, Perfect Ashlar, and the Trestleboard

The Temple Within identifies a triad of transformation: the Rough Ashlar, the Perfect Ashlar, and the Trestleboard. “The Rough Ashlar represents the beginning of the journey, full of potential but requiring refinement. The Perfect Ashlar symbolizes the ultimate goal: a man who embodies virtue, wisdom, and moral discipline. The Trestleboard acts as the guiding plan, ensuring that progress is intentional and aligned with Masonic principles.”

Two principles are especially relevant to policing:

1. The stone is chosen for its potential.

2. The work must follow a plan.

When we ask how police agencies change, we are really asking whether they are recruiting the right people from the “quarry of life” and whether they are forming those people according to a clear ethical blueprint. These questions sit behind every serious reform effort, including Louisville’s.

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Case Study 1: Louisville’s Consent Decree as a Civic Trestleboard

In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice and Louisville Metro Government entered into a court-enforceable consent decree following a pattern-or-practice investigation prompted by the killing of Breonna Taylor. The Justice Department described the decree as a “blueprint for reform,” requiring changes that touch the core of police culture and operations. These include:

• mandatory de-escalation techniques
• use of force only when reasonable, necessary, and proportional
• fair and impartial enforcement
• expanded behavioral-health crisis responses
• public reporting and independent monitoring

This structure is, in Masonic terms, a trestleboard. It transforms broad aspiration—“restore trust,” “improve safety”—into specific, enforceable labor.

The Temple Within notes that the Mason must “remove from ourselves all that is impure and unrefined, allowing us to become living stones fit for the spiritual building of the Temple.” Louisville’s reforms parallel this process: identifying constitutional violations, racial disparities, and inadequate crisis responses, and striking at them deliberately.

Scholarly research on consent decrees reinforces the importance of clarity and accountability. Analyses of previous decrees in cities such as Ferguson and Pittsburgh show that reforms falter when municipalities lack transparency or when community participation is weak. A trestleboard not read—and not followed—cannot build a temple.

Louisville’s decree attempts to address this by requiring community oversight, independent evaluation, and public reporting. Whether this will succeed depends on whether the city remains committed to the slow, difficult work of shaping the stone.

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Case Study 2: Scenario-Based De-escalation and the Ethics of the Common Gavel

A second major reform effort involves the national expansion of scenario-based de-escalation training. In 2024, bipartisan federal legislation was introduced directing the Department of Justice to create and distribute scenario-based training on use of force, crisis intervention, and ethical decision-making. The bill also provided grants so departments of all sizes could participate.

Supporters emphasized that such training saves lives, improves officer safety, and equips officers to respond more effectively to mental-health crises. With nearly six in ten police encounters involving a person with a serious mental illness, lawmakers framed the initiative as essential to both community safety and officer preparedness.

From a Masonic perspective, scenario-based de-escalation training is the institutional equivalent of the Common Gavel. The Gavel, as The Temple Within explains, is the tool used “to ‘chip away’ vices and excesses, molding [the Mason] into a virtuous being.” In law enforcement, those vices include impulsive escalation, failure to recognize mental-health distress, and reliance on force as the primary tool of control. Training designed to chip away at these habits is moral work, not merely tactical instruction.

The virtues emphasized in The Temple Within—temperance, fortitude, prudence, and justice—align perfectly with modern de-escalation models:

• Temperance: control of emotion and impulse
• Fortitude: courage under stress
• Prudence: sound, life-preserving judgment
• Justice: fairness and restraint in application of authority

Research on policing tools reinforces that procedural changes must be embedded in culture. Studies on body-worn cameras show that rules governing how footage is reviewed can either enhance accountability or compromise due process. Crisis-response research highlights the importance of interagency partnerships and officer wellness. All these findings point to a single truth: the tools of reform must be used with discipline, integrity, and purpose—exactly as Masons are taught to labor.

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Culture as a Living Stone: Beyond Policy Into Formation

Both Louisville’s decree and the national shift toward scenario-based training demonstrate that culture is malleable—but only with sustained intention. Reform organizations emphasize that “police are not born; they are made.” What officers are trained, encouraged, and permitted to do ultimately defines the culture they inhabit.

This mirrors a central theme in The Temple Within: “labor is worship,” and a Mason’s work is judged not by words but by conduct. When policing is framed as a vocation dedicated to protecting the vulnerable, upholding justice, and exercising authority under restraint, it aligns with this vision. When framed instead around domination or unquestioned group loyalty, it diverges sharply from both democratic and Masonic ideals.

Reform is therefore a question of formation:

• Recruitment asks: What stones do we bring from the quarry?
• Training asks: What tools do we place in their hands?
• Policy and oversight ask: What trestleboard do we draw, and do we build to it?

Research, federal oversight, and emerging best practices all suggest the same conclusion: institutions improve only when they commit to structural accountability, ethical formation, and ongoing evaluation.

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Conclusion: Before the Stone Becomes Strong, It Must Become True

The Temple Within reminds us that “the progression from Rough Ashlar to Perfect Ashlar is a lifelong journey,” measured by daily effort, not instant transformation. Policing faces a similar journey. The Louisville consent decree provides a trestleboard for one city that must rebuild trust after profound failures. National scenario-based de-escalation initiatives offer the tools needed to form officers capable of restraint, empathy, and good judgment.

Benjamin Franklin observed that without continual growth, words like improvement and success lose their meaning. Institutions, like individuals, become what they practice. If police agencies commit to confronting their rough edges—bias, impatience, flawed tactics, and weak accountability—they, too, can move toward the strength that comes only from truth.

Before the stone becomes strong, it must become true. The hope for both Masons and police officers is that strength and truth may one day be indistinguishable in the lives of those who serve and in the institutions entrusted with public safety.

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References

Department of Justice. (2024). Justice Department secures agreement with Louisville Metro Government to reform Louisville Metro’s and Louisville Metro Police Department’s unconstitutional and unlawful practices. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.

Farber, H. B. (2024). Policies for police body-worn cameras that preserve due process. American Criminal Law Review.

Foster, R. E. (n.d.). The Temple Within. Unpublished manuscript.

National Policing Institute. (2025). Building resilience in policing: Preventing stress and supporting officer mental health.

O’Connor, A. (2024). Examining the effectiveness of consent decrees in relation to police accountability. IMAGINE, University of California, Santa Barbara.

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. (2024). Implementation of De-escalation Training Act Program.

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. (2025). Safer Outcomes: Behavioral-health collaboration in law enforcement.

U.S. House of Representatives. (2024). Law Enforcement Scenario-Based Training for Safety and De-escalation Act of 2024.

United States Attorney Announces Largest Meth Seizure In Colorado History, So-Called ‘Kingpin’ Charge Filed Against Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization

DENVER – The United States Attorney for the District of Colorado announces that 15 individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the largest methamphetamine seizure in Colorado history.  One defendant is facing the so-called ‘drug kingpin’ charge as an alleged leader of a drug trafficking organization.

Defendants named in the indictment include: Marco Antonio De Silva Lara, Sergio Ivan  Arce Lopez, Juan Luis Cabrera Saucedo, Luis Enrique Lopez Lopez, Rigoberto Aranda, Erik Alejandro Benitez Chavez, Robert Shane Gerstner, Joseph Ricardo Menzor, William Joseph Rollins, Brittney Pierce, Francisco Javier Armenta Barraza, Jamie Cash Hoover, Cesar Andres Huizar Guerra, and Trenton Anthony Thompson. Eleven of these defendants are in federal custody, while the remaining defendants are believed to remain in Mexico.

As detailed in the complaint, federal wiretaps, extensive surveillance, undercover operations, and swift enforcement efforts led to the seizure of more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine linked to this organization, including the following:

• In December 2024, agents seized 96 pounds of methamphetamine from a member of the organization on a Greyhound Bus in Vail, Colorado.
• In February 2025, 101 pounds of methamphetamine and a half kilogram of fentanyl powder were seized from another member of the organization on a highway in Colorado.
• In April 2025, over 700 pounds of methamphetamine was seized from a residence in Lakewood, Colorado, along with freezers, propane tanks, and other equipment consistent with methamphetamine manufacturing or conversion.  Investigators found thousands of packages of methamphetamine concealed in the corners of containers of fruit.
• In August 2025, nearly 50 pounds of methamphetamine was seized from a residence in Arvada, Colorado.

All 15 defendants face drug charges which carry a potential sentence of no less than ten years and up to life in federal prison.  Four of the defendants are charged with money laundering, which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. Marco Antonio De Silva Lara is charged with operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 848(a), commonly known as the ‘drug kingpin’ charge. This charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life in prison.

“This successful investigation boasts the largest methamphetamine seizure in Colorado history and intercepted more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine before it could be distributed into our community,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “This investigation showcases what we are able to accomplish when we combine the resources, tools, and expertise of federal agencies with the passion, experience, and sweat equity of local law enforcement officers.”

The investigation is being handled by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Arvada Police Department each made significant contributions to this case.

This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Rocky Mountain HSTF comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service, Office of Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshals Service (USMS), Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement / Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE/ERO) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.

The Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado is handling the prosecutions.

The charges contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Case Number: 1:25-CR-240-PAB

Former Police Officer Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Possessing Machine Guns

CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Tuesday sentenced a former police officer to five years in prison for possessing machine guns.

Ira Brown, 56, admitted that on Oct. 23, 2020, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers found a fully automatic AR-15 rifle and an auto sear that converts an AR-15 into a fully automatic weapon. The items were found during a court-approved search of Brown’s home prompted by an unrelated investigation. Investigators also found 10,000 rounds of belt-fed .223 caliber ammunition, including armor piercing rounds, in Brown’s Viburnum home, his plea says.

Brown was employed as a dispatcher at a 911 call center at the time of his arrest but formerly worked as a police officer.

Brown fled while out on bond and was arrested in 2024 in Oregon. He pleaded guilty in July of 2025 to possession of a machine gun.

Brown’s son Zerak Brown, now 24, is now serving a 125-month prison sentence after he was convicted at trial in 2021 of two counts of assaulting a federal officer and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Evidence and testimony at trial showed that when troopers showed up to allow Zerak Brown’s girlfriend to remove her belongings from Ira Brown’s home, Zerak Brown refused to allow them to enter. Zerak Brown struggled with the troopers, asked his brother to bring him a gun and then fled. Zerak Brown was later spotted with a rifle and ran away again, encountering law enforcement officers a third time and pointing a rifle at them, evidence and testimony showed. He later turned himself in.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Viburnum Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case.

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Convicted felon gets 15-year maximum sentence after pointing gun at law enforcement officer

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 45-year-old Robstown resident has been sentenced to federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Guadalupe Calderon III pleaded guilty July 31.

U.S. District Judge Davis S. Morales has now ordered Calderon to serve 180 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the sentencing hearing, the court saw footage of Calderon pointing and attempting to fire a handgun at a local sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop. In handing down the sentence, the court noted he would have sentenced Calderon to a higher sentence, but the statutory maximum penalty was 180 months.

On July 26, 2024, law enforcement had conducted a traffic stop on Calderon’s truck. When asked for his license and insurance, he pointed a Ruger pistol at the officer’s face and pulled the trigger. When the gun did not fire, Calderon fled the scene in his truck.

Authorities located him approximately six hours later riding in another vehicle. A search resulted in the discovery of the firearm in the back seat where he had been sitting along with over 30 rounds of ammunition and a high-capacity drum magazine.

Calderon admitted the gun was his and that he had pointed it at the officer earlier that day.

He has multiple prior felony convictions. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law.

Calderon has been and will remain in custody.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Nueces County Sheriff’s Department and Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.

The Invisible Enemy: Officer Safety, Stress, and Hidden Risks

Bullets aren’t the only threat—what is the unseen cost of policing?

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I. The Weight of Silence

The rookie had been running for less than ten minutes when his legs buckled.
It was a mild morning at the academy — Southern California sun rising soft over the asphalt, instructors barking encouragement more than orders. He was twenty-seven, a father of two, chasing his dream badge. But when the instructors reached him, his pulse was fading. Paramedics were called. The recruits were told to form up and stand at attention.

By evening, the department issued a brief statement: “We mourn the loss of one of our own during training.”

It wasn’t gunfire that killed him. It wasn’t a car chase, a domestic call gone wrong, or a violent suspect. It was the invisible enemy — stress, exhaustion, and an internal culture that teaches every young officer to push beyond pain, to equate fatigue with weakness, and to “suck it up” until there’s nothing left to give.

The story is tragic, but not unique. Dozens of recruits have died nationwide while training to become police officers in the last decade (Associated Press, 2025). The irony is brutal: the pursuit of officer safety sometimes kills the very people it seeks to protect.

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II. Redefining Officer Safety

For generations, “officer safety” meant staying alive on the street — situational awareness, weapon retention, body armor, and tactics. Every academy hammered it in: go home at the end of your shift. Yet, in 2025, the greater threat is no longer only external.

According to Blue H.E.L.P. (2024), more officers die by suicide than by all line-of-duty causes combined. Chronic stress, cumulative trauma, and organizational fatigue are the modern occupational hazards. These are not isolated tragedies; they are systemic indicators of a profession under siege from within.

The National Institute of Justice (2023) defines modern officer wellness as “a continuum of physical, emotional, social, and moral health that enables an officer to serve effectively and live fully.” That definition reframes safety from mere survival to sustainability — not just protecting officers from the public, but protecting them from the wear of the work itself.

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III. The Hidden Enemies Within

A. The Physiology of Stress

The body of a police officer lives in permanent red alert. Studies have shown that extended exposure to adrenaline and cortisol — the “fight or flight” hormones — leads to chronic inflammation, poor sleep, hypertension, and cardiac risk (Violanti, 2022).
The heart never really clocks out, even when the shift ends.

Over time, this invisible load compounds. Officers develop what researchers call “hypervigilance fatigue,” a form of psychological overdrive where one’s nervous system never returns to baseline. The result isn’t just burnout — it’s a biological degradation of health.

B. Psychological Trauma and Cumulative Exposure

Few professions confront trauma so intimately. The officer who cradles a dying child or knocks on a door to deliver the worst news imaginable carries that weight home. These experiences accumulate like sediment.
Research from Shane (2023) links chronic exposure to trauma with emotional numbing, anxiety, and suicidal ideation — even among officers who appear outwardly resilient.

C. Moral Injury

Beyond trauma lies something quieter and more corrosive: moral injury. It occurs when officers witness or participate in actions that conflict with their ethical code — whether through necessity, policy, or pressure.
This isn’t just guilt; it’s a fracture in moral identity. Officers often describe feeling alienated from their community, their department, and even their former selves.

D. The Culture of Silence

The greatest barrier to healing is the institution’s unwritten rule: don’t show weakness. Many officers fear that seeking help will brand them as unreliable or unstable, jeopardizing promotions or duty assignments.

In that silence, pain festers. Departments still praise toughness more than openness. Yet every year, those cultural expectations claim more lives than violence on the street.

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IV. The Training Paradox

In 2025, the Associated Press (2025) documented a disturbing rise in recruit deaths during police academy training — heart failure, heat stroke, and exhaustion among the top causes.
The very system designed to forge resilience sometimes breaks the body before the badge is earned.

Academy instructors, many trained in military methods, often conflate endurance with discipline. But the physiological reality is different. Recruits already entering under chronic stress or poor cardiovascular conditioning are at risk when exposed to high-heat, high-stress drills without adequate rest or hydration.

Several academies, including Los Angeles and Miami-Dade, have since begun reforming their training models to include mindfulness, nutrition, and structured recovery periods. The focus is shifting from breaking down recruits to building them up holistically — physically and psychologically.

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“The strongest armor is the understanding of one’s own fragility.”
— The Temple Within

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V. The Family Factor

Policing doesn’t end at the station door. The hypervigilance, secrecy, and emotional withdrawal that protect an officer in the field often harm them at home.

Dr. Ellen Kirschman (2021) describes the “second shift” of silence — officers who, in trying to protect their families from the darkness of the job, become emotionally unavailable. Divorce rates remain disproportionately high, and children of police officers often exhibit secondary trauma symptoms.

One veteran sergeant described it plainly:
“I can handle the blood and the chaos. What I can’t handle is seeing how much it changes who I am when I walk through my own front door.”

These ripple effects underscore a vital truth: officer wellness is not a private issue — it’s a family and community concern.

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VI. Breaking the Cycle

A. Wellness Programs and Peer Support

In recent years, departments across the nation have introduced wellness programs, counseling access, and peer-support initiatives. The LAPD’s Behavioral Science Services and the NYPD’s peer network are often cited as models of early intervention.

What makes them effective isn’t just availability — it’s confidentiality. Officers must believe that asking for help won’t end their careers. Programs built on trust, anonymity, and peer leadership outperform those that rely solely on mandatory sessions or administrative oversight (NIJ, 2023).

B. Technology and Early Intervention

Technology has begun to play an unexpected role in wellness.
AI-driven tools can now track heart rate variability, fatigue levels, and behavioral indicators of burnout. Some agencies use dashboard alerts that flag excessive overtime or critical incident exposure.

But this innovation brings ethical tension: monitoring for health can easily drift into surveillance. The balance between data-driven support and personal privacy remains delicate, especially in a profession steeped in distrust of internal oversight.

C. Leadership and Culture

True reform begins at the top. Chiefs, captains, and lieutenants set the emotional tone of the department. When leaders model vulnerability, empathy, and balance, the culture begins to shift.

Leadership training must now include emotional intelligence, communication, and wellness management. The officer of tomorrow will be measured not only by tactical skill but by the ability to maintain composure and compassion under pressure.

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VII. The Future of Officer Safety

The next frontier of policing will not be won with better weapons or faster cars — but through internal resilience.

Departments that invest in holistic wellness reduce liability, turnover, and misconduct. More importantly, they protect the humanity of their people.
Future officer safety must include:

• Structured recovery time after critical incidents.

• Ongoing resilience training alongside firearms and defensive tactics.

• Access to confidential mental health services.

• Policies that prioritize sleep, nutrition, and physical health as mission-critical elements.

A true measure of strength is not the absence of pain, but the capacity to face it.

This echoes the central idea from The Temple Within:
The temple of strength is not built of stone or steel, but of balance, understanding, and self-awareness.

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VIII. Conclusion: Who Protects Those Who Protect?

When we talk about policing, we often talk about the dangers of the street — the split-second shootout, the domestic call gone wrong, the long night shift in a hostile neighborhood. But the most lethal adversary may not carry a weapon at all.

It lives in the sleepless nights, the unspoken trauma, the unrelenting pace of a profession that still measures worth by stoicism.

The invisible enemy is not the suspect — it is the silence that follows the shift.
If communities demand accountability and professionalism, then we must also demand compassion for those who stand the line.

Leadership — in departments, unions, and city halls — must redefine officer safety to include the heart, the mind, and the family. Only then can the badge symbolize not just courage under fire, but endurance under life.

As we move into a new era of policing, one truth stands constant:
If the mission is to serve and protect, then we must finally learn to protect those who serve.

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References

Associated Press. (2025). Dozens of recruits have died nationwide while training to become police officers.
Blue H.E.L.P. (2024). Law enforcement suicide data. https://bluehelp.org
Kirschman, E. (2021). I love a cop: What police families need to know (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
National Institute of Justice. (2023). Officer safety and wellness research findings. U.S. Department of Justice.
Shane, J. M. (2023). Stress, burnout, and moral injury in policing. Policing: An International Journal, 46(2), 112–127.
Violanti, J. M. (2022). Police suicide: A global perspective. Journal of Law Enforcement Leadership, 18(3), 210–225.

Introduction: The Digital Frontline of Policing

When an officer reaches into a patrol car to grab a body-camera or MDT (mobile data terminal) after a call, the mission is still “public safety.” But more and more, digital risk has become a part of that mission. Whether it's a phone issued by the department, a laptop used in an investigation, or a cloud upload of body-cam footage, each device and each bit of data is now a tactical asset — and if mishandled, a potential vulnerability.

In the field, cyber hygiene is not just an IT concern—it’s a matter of evidence integrity, officer safety, and organizational credibility. A compromised device can mean lost video, corrupted logs, delayed prosecutions, or worse: exposure of sensitive officer or victim data. The purpose of this essay is to translate cyber-security best practices into actionable field tactics for patrol and investigations—so that every person carrying a device can act like both a first-responder and a cyber-aware operator.

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1. Understanding the Threat Landscape

1.1 Why It Matters in the Field

Police agencies increasingly rely on digital evidence: phones, body-cams, vehicle computers, cloud uploads, and remote investigation tools. If any of these are compromised—via malware, remote wipe, data exfiltration, or simply loss of chain of custody—the consequences ripple: cases drop, trust erodes, and officers face added risk.

1.2 Common Vectors & Attack Scenarios

Some of the most common vectors that matter operationally:

• Phishing / social engineering: An officer serving a subpoena opens a link that appears legitimate but leads to credential capture.

• Malicious USB or charger “juice-jacking”: Plugging a device into a public charger or unknown USB drive can invite malware or data theft.

• Compromised credentials & remote access: Weak passwords, reused logins, or exposed remote desktop protocol (RDP) leave systems vulnerable.

• Third-party/cloud compromise: When devices sync data to the cloud or use shared storage, the compromise may begin elsewhere and cascade.

• Evidence device handling failure: Improper seizure or storage of a phone or camera may alter metadata or allow remote erasure, undermining the case.

1.3 Why Patrol Units Must Care

Often, we think of cyber-risk as the domain of IT or the bomb squad—but the patrol officer is on the front line. Devices in squads and detectives’ cars are high‐mobility, connect to many environments, and are often managed in less controlled settings. That makes them the weakest link in many security chains.

The federal guidance from agencies such as Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and others reinforce this point: the majority of ransomware and data extortion incidents begin with basic access vectors such as compromised credentials or unpatched systems. (U.S. Department of War)
For police, the practical upshot: the device you hold, the upload you trigger, and the evidence you seize all carry risk—and all demand disciplined handling.

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2. Core Principles of Field Cyber Hygiene

Below are five guiding principles that translate policy into patrol-level behavior.

2.1 Least Privilege

Only carry and use the accounts or applications you need for duty. Avoid using administrative logins if you only need user access; avoid personal cloud drives for casework. Ensuring minimal access limits exposure if a device is lost or compromised.

2.2 Separation (Personal vs Professional)

Keep personal and professional devices/data separated. If you use a personal phone or tablet for case-work, you merge two risk domains. Department-issued devices should be strictly for profession-related tasks; personal apps or social logins shouldn’t co-exist on them.

2.3 Strong Authentication & Encryption

Require auto-lock, long passphrases or biometric controls, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever supported. Encryption—both for stored data and device backup—means that if a device is lost or stolen, the data is protected.

2.4 Chain of Custody for Digital Evidence

The same rigor we apply to physical evidence—tagging, logging, hand-offs—must apply to digital devices. Metadata (timestamps, serial numbers, IMEI numbers, access logs) must be preserved. Failing to treat a phone or camera as “evidence” can jeopardize prosecutions.

2.5 Update Before You Operate

Devices should be patched and updated on schedule. Many successful intrusions hinge on unpatched software, exposed RDP services, or outdated firmware. The federal guide stresses this. (CIS)
In the field, this means: don’t delay updates, don’t bypass prompts, and schedule periodic audits of device status.

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3. Tactical Handling of Digital Evidence

This section walks through how to treat digital devices and data from the moment you encounter them.

3.1 On-Scene Capture Protocols

When you seize a device or collect digital evidence:

• Photograph the device in situ: how it was connected, screen state, cables, surrounding environment. That establishes condition prior to handling.

• Prevent remote wipes or tampering: If policy allows, place the device in airplane mode, isolate from the network, or use a Faraday pouch. But avoid “clicking around” inside suspect devices—opening apps or triggering remote calls can alter metadata.

• Treat the device as you would a weapon: chain of custody begins at the scene.

3.2 Documentation & Labeling

Record the device’s make/model/serial/IMEI and note date/time/seizure location and collecting officer. Log screen status (locked/unlocked). Tag the device to the case number immediately. Maintain access logs if you (or units) access it later.

3.3 Transfer to Forensics/Storage

If the device will be forensically examined: (1) Do not connect to suspect networks. (2) Create a forensic image (if trained) or ensure transfer to qualified digital forensics unit. (3) Avoid previewing data unless absolutely necessary—previewing risks altering metadata or triggering remote wipes.
Legal guidance emphasizes preservation of system state, extraction of logs and memory images, and use of proper forensic methods. 

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4. On-Shift Cyber Hygiene Habits for Patrol

These habits make the difference between “we’ve got a problem” and “we’re ready.”

4.1 Mobile Device Habits

• Disable auto-connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth networks. Before connecting to any network, verify SSID and security.

• Use only department-issued chargers/cables; avoid public phone-charging kiosks or unknown USB sticks (juice-jacking risk).

• Enable device auto-lock in a maximum of 2 minutes of inactivity.

• Use MFA for login and enforce strong passphrases (15+ characters if feasible).

• At shift end, confirm device is updated and logged off properly.

4.2 Vehicle/MDT (Mobile Data Terminal) Protocols

• Lock the screen when exiting vehicle, even if only briefly.

• Do not store personal files/media on MDTs or squad computers.

• Do not insert USB drives from unknown sources—treat as contaminated unless confirmed safe.

• For downtime (hardware refresh), treat vehicle computer as critical asset—update, patrol-only apps, network segmentation.

4.3 Email, Messaging & Cloud Uploads

• Be alert: phishers may mimic subpoenas, warrant services, or internal portals. Hover links, inspect senders, verify with a phone call if unsure.

• Do not share case files via personal Gmail, free messaging platforms, or unapproved cloud services. Use department-approved storage.

• For body-cam and other uploads: verify that the upload completed before clearing the camera or deleting local files. Know the retention schedule and redaction policy. 

• When networks are compromised, activate fallback manual (paper or voice) systems rather than exposing MDTs.

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5. Supervisory & Policy-Level Reinforcements

It’s not enough for line officers to know—supervisors and department leadership must enable and enforce.

5.1 Supervisor Roll-Call Leadership

• Conduct short “cyber check” drills during roll call: ask “is your device locked now?”, “have you changed your passphrase since last update?”, “what would you do if you found a stranger’s USB in the squad car?”

• Enforce compliance: ensure all devices are patched, updated, and all credentials current.

• Model the behavior: supervisors should not bypass device-security steps themselves.

5.2 Policy, Training & Accountability

• Departments should codify rules: e.g., “No personal device may be used for case data access” or “MFA mandatory for all user accounts.”

• Update policy to reflect digital evidence handling: chain-of-custody logs for devices, clear labeling, device supplier protocols.

• Conduct quarterly audits and spot-checks.

• Integrate cyber-hygiene into annual in-service training, following federal standards. CISA’s #StopRansomware guide provides baseline controls. 

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6. Case Studies: What Went Wrong and What We Learn

Case Study 1 — Metropolitan Police Department (District of Columbia) (MPD), 2021 – Ransomware

In 2021 the MPD was hit by a significant ransomware event involving the Babuk group. Sensitive internal files were reportedly exfiltrated and leaked. The operational impact was extensive: investigations slowed, case files were exposed, and the department’s public trust took a hit.
Lessons for field units:

• Attackers are targeting law-enforcement agencies directly—this demands the same vigilance that other critical infrastructure sectors use.

• Ensure network segmentation: patrol and investigative networks must be logically separated from administrative and public systems.

• Devices in vehicles (which connect to broader networks) must follow the same protections as desktop systems.

Case Study 2 — City of Dallas Ransomware Incident, May 2023

In May 2023 Dallas was hit by the “Royal” ransomware group. Multiple city services were impacted—including demand for remote access, printer push of ransom notes, and systems used by the police department.  The breach exposed personal information for tens of thousands of individuals (one report estimates 30,253 people) including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and health-insurance details.

 Operational impact for policing:

• The CAD/records system suffered outages, forcing manual processes and delaying investigations.

• Officer data was exposed, increasing risk of doxxing and operational vulnerability.
  Lessons learned:

• Digital readiness includes fallback operations: if CAD/records go down, patrol must have manual plans.

• Ensure minimal personally identifiable information (PII) exposure on devices and shared networks.

• Training for “what do we do when digital infrastructure fails” must be practiced.

Case Study 3 — City of Dallas Data Loss (DPD Archive), March 2021

In March 2021 the Dallas Police Department lost more than 20 terabytes of data — 8.26 million individual files, including archived images, video, and case-notes — when an IT employee mistakenly deleted cloud-storage files during a migration.  Operational impact:

• Ongoing investigations were put at risk; the district attorney alerted defense counsel to missing files.  Lessons learned:

• Human error remains a significant risk: policies and “failsafe” checks must be in place before change actions.

• Evidence handling is not just about field collection—archiving, storage, backup, and retrieval matter.

• Field units must ensure that device-seized data and investigative files are backed up in secure and verified systems.

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7. Quick Reference Checklists

Patrol “Cyber-Clean” Checklist

• Lock device every time you step away (even briefly).

• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) and a strong passphrase (15+ characters preferred).

• Do not use public or unknown USB drives or chargers.

• Disable auto-connect to open Wi-Fi or Bluetooth unless verified.

• Confirm device software (OS/app) is up-to-date before your shift.

• Treat all case-related files as evidence: log collection, access, and hand-off.

On-Scene Digital Evidence Checklist

• Photograph the device as found (screen state, cables, surroundings).

• Record make, model, serial/IMEI, collection time, officer name.

• Prevent remote wipe/alteration (airplane mode/Faraday, if policy allows).

• Package and tag the device with case number; log the hand-off to evidence/forensics.

• Do not preview or open apps unless trained to do so; preserve metadata.

• Ensure forensic imaging or transfer to qualified unit; document every access until submitted.

Supervisor Spot-Check Card

• Are all issued devices patched and updated on schedule?

• Are personal devices being used for case-access or data upload?

• Are roll-calls including a cyber-check (device locks, charger inspection, USB/hardware review)?

• Does the unit have a plan for CAD/records outage or digital-service loss?

• Are retention and release policies for body-cam/cloud files posted and understood?

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8. The Future: Digital Survival Skills for Officers

As policing advances, the digital environment will only grow in complexity. IoT devices in vehicles, body-cams with cloud integrations, predictive policing tools, and more cloud-native workflows mean the attack surface expands. Meanwhile, threat actors sharpen their skills: deep-fakes, voice-impersonation, remote device takeovers, coordinated data extortion.

What this means for the field:

• Digital awareness becomes part of officer survival. Just as you train for use-of-force or defensive tactics, plan for “what if my device is compromised.”

• Continuous learning: incorporate cyber-hygiene into annual training, roll-calls, and field drills.

• Resilience mindset: digital workflows will fail. Preparations for failure (manual backups, paper options, alternative comms) matter.

• Community trust: a breach or device loss doesn’t just affect one officer—it can undermine several investigations and public confidence.

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9. Conclusion: From Keyboard to Courtroom

The devices we carry and the data we collect in the field aren’t “nice to have”—they are mission-essential. Cyber hygiene is not a tech locker or a policy document—it’s an operational reality. Safe devices, secure data, and sound evidence practices protect cases, careers, and community trust.

Start small: run a five-minute cyber check in each shift, use the checklists above, institutionalize the habit of “lock it, update it, treat it like evidence.” The field officer who pulls up for an investigation, secures their phone and body-cam upload—and knows the chain from collection to court—is the one who ensures justice is served.

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References

1. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). #StopRansomware Guide. May 2023. (U.S. Department of War)

2. City of Dallas. The City of Dallas Ransomware Incident: May 2023 – Incident Remediation Efforts and Resolution. Sept 2023. (Dallas City Hall)

3. City of Dallas — Information & Technology Services Report on Data Loss. “Data Loss / Archive Files” Feb 2022. (Dallas City Hall)

4. Federal Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Updated Advisory on Potential Sanctions Risks for Facilitating Ransomware Payments. Sept 21 2021. (OFAC)

5. Loeb & Loeb LLP. “What Now? A Business Guide to Navigating Ransomware Attacks.” April 2022. (Loeb)

6. Cybersecurity Dive. “Dallas ransomware attack causes critical service outages.” May 4 2023. (Cybersecurity Dive)

7. Sangfor Technologies. “Dallas Ransomware Attack Affects 30,253 People.” Aug 29 2023. (SANGFOR)