Welcome to the America’s Criminologist Podcast for February 14, 2025. This is Dr Currie Myers with some interesting criminal justice news and events that have occurred in the United States recently.
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My new book, “The Advent of Feral Man” is now available on Substack drcurriemyers.substack.com for all paid subscribers. In this book, I present compelling evidence that within the last decade, America is going into a quick decent into the “wilding” of human beings. A phenomenon that is perpetuated by the lack of faith, family, and formation in our human development. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Don’t forget my podcast also available on Spotify on America’s Criminologist with Dr. Currie Myers. And please join me on X. This is a very important platform for distributing my work. @DrCurrieMyers
This week on the Lou Desmond & Company Show, I was the guest-host and my guest was Detective Kevin Cronister, a child predator expert. The show can also be seen on video at this link! In this interview we discussed the evolution of online child exploitation, the role of social media & gaming platforms, the Dark Web and child exploitation and AI and Deepfake technology in exploitation. We also discussed leadership and training in the law enforcement profession and his work at Guardian Training Solutions. If you prefer to see the video of this broadcast!
Here are my pressing issues that I have offered an opinion on as an applied criminologist, ethicist and career law enforcement officer at the local, state, and federal level:
Reforming Inspectors General: Ensuring Accountability to the Taxpayer
Inspectors General (IGs) are meant to serve as the last line of defense against government waste, fraud, and abuse. However, growing evidence suggests that rather than being effective watchdogs, many IGs have failed to hold agencies accountable, allowing corruption and inefficiency to flourish. Former President Donald Trump was right to question their effectiveness, as numerous cases highlight a lack of oversight and enforcement. To restore public trust, IGs must be subjected to greater accountability and reform to ensure they serve the taxpayers rather than the bureaucratic institutions they oversee. See the full Op Ed here!
In a Feb. 7 in the Leaven, which is his archdiocesan newspaper, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas noted that “the Church does not have the authority or the responsibility to determine the legal status of those living in the United States” but does have “an obligation to care for every person with respect and love, no matter their citizenship status.” At the same time, the Kansas City archbishop offered a full-throated endorsement of prioritizing public safety threats in immigration enforcement. “Allowing violent gangs, individuals with serious criminal histories, dealers of lethal illegal drugs, human traffickers, and those who pose threats to our national security to enter our country and harm U.S. citizens is a serious dereliction of duty by our elected leaders,” Naumann said. “I commend President [Donald] Trump and those in his administration for addressing this serious, national threat.” Naumann went on to fault the Biden administration for its handling of the unprecedented wave of unaccompanied minors it allowed to enter the country. “It is inconceivable that our previous administration either did not know or care about the location or the circumstances of approximately 300,000 children and youth who entered the United States during the past four years,” Naumann declared. “I salute President Trump and his administration for making it a priority to find these lost children and youth.” In closing, Naumann said: “I would love to have the opportunity to have a conversation with President Trump and/or Vice President [JD] Vance about immigration and refugee resettlement policies.” This is a great letter by the archbishop that recognizes the dignity for every human but also reinforces the importance of safety and security of our nation! More Catholic leaders should signal the importance of dignity as well as security and safety of individuals.
My friends, at Guardian Training Solutions, they believe all officers should head into the field with the most advanced, up-to-date tactical skills in order to fulfill their promise to protect and serve with honor. As technology and tools evolve, continued training and certifications are necessary so officers can evolve, too. So, I recommend Guardian Training Solutions as your go to law enforcement and security training company for all your training needs. And hey, Guardian has now unveiled their online training LMS programs and yours truly has the honor of helping them with this training curriculum and development. Our first courses on leadership and management are available, so go to Guardian Training Solutions to find out more about their incredible, training programs!
Okay here is my five-minute blitz on CJ News and Information for this week:
As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been conducting raids across the country, illegal immigrants, criminals and gang members have been taken in en masse, with several big arrests occurring Monday alone, the Daily Caller has learned. As of Jan. 29, ICE has made a minimum of 4,829 arrests since President Donald Trump was inaugurated and the widespread raids began, according to NBC News. In the last week of January, the Trump administration was averaging 753 arrests per day. Many of those arrested are for sexual assaults and sexual assaults with a minor.
Continuing with immigration arrests, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced during Wednesday’s press briefing that President Donald J. Trump‘s policy of mass deporting illegal immigrants is continuing apace. This week already, according to Leavitt, 190 illegal immigrants from Venezuela have been returned directly to their home country on two deportation flights. The impact of increased immigration enforcement operations in almost all parts of the United States and along the southwest border has caused migrant encounters to drop 96 percent from last year, according to weekly data reported by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Dallas Police Department (DPD) Interim Chief Michael Igo on Wednesday told a gathering of Spanish speakers at Familia Bethel Internacional church, “The Dallas Police Department is not assisting any federal agency on detaining people that are either documented or undocumented in the city of Dallas,” Fox News reported on Thursday. His comments came amid several meetings planned to inform the community’s immigrants about the situation. Igo also told the group officers would not turn in or report illegals who call 911 for help or those police pull over regarding traffic violations. He then encouraged them to call the department when they needed help and continue living their daily lives. Chief Igo, you are an embarrassment to law enforcement, Hopefully the DOJ will address this issue with you personally.
The military is increasing its surveillance of Mexican drug cartels to collect intelligence to determine how to best counter their activities, the top general overseeing troops in North America said on Thursday. "We have also increased some uniquely military capabilities that will get after ... the cartels, which are driving the illegal migration, and that is primarily through airborne ISR to get more information on those and figure out how we can counter their actions," said Air Force General Gregory Guillot, head of U.S. Northern Command.
In a landmark verdict on Thursday, February 6, 2025, a federal jury convicted a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy of using excessive force, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing national debate over law enforcement accountability. Trevor James Kirk, 32, was found guilty of one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law, a charge carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for April 21. Former Sheriff Alex Villanueva, present in the courtroom when the verdict was read, provided an exclusive statement to The Current Report: “This federal prosecution of a Category 1 Use of Force, the lowest grade, is unprecedented. Declaring pepper spray a dangerous weapon is also unprecedented and could have major implications on the use of less-than-lethal weapons, training, and related policies. It also emboldens the criminal community to resist lawful detentions while limiting law enforcement’s ability to control violent suspects safely. The chilling effect on deputies unwilling to engage resisting suspects will breed hesitation and increase the potential for injury on all sides.” The guilty verdict has sent shockwaves through the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. There is growing concern that the verdict could set a dangerous precedent for law enforcement, potentially undermining lawful detentions and arrests where the use of force is necessary. Sources within LASD indicate that, in response to the department’s role in the case, deputies are resigning, transferring to other agencies, or retiring at an unprecedented rate. Insiders predict that within two months, the department may lose hundreds of sworn personnel unwilling to be what they see as scapegoats for a shifting justice system.
Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Randy Weber’s Officer John Barnes Act would expedite the processing of disability benefits claims in the DOJ’s Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program. Their legislation is named in honor of the law enforcement officer that first confronted the gunman in the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, which took ten lives. That officer, John Barnes, was critically wounded by the gunman and sustained a permanent disability after nearly bleeding to death, which ended his career in law enforcement. He applied to PSOB for disability benefits following the injury and waited nearly seven years to receive an answer. The PSOB program informed Barnes last week that his claim was denied, Weber’s office told the DCNF. Cruz and Weber’s legislation would require the DOJ’s PSOB program to process applicants’ claims within 270 days and ensure a clear timeline for benefit determination. Under current law, there is no deadline to make a determination on law enforcement officers and first responders’ claims.
RFK Jr is now the Secretary for HHS! Why is the important for criminal justice? I always tell my students and the public that law enforcement officers are a mirror reflection of the society in which we serve. And America is unfit and overweight, therefor so are many of our police officers. With Kennedy at the helm, Americans should expect policies to increase access to real, whole foods, counter corporate lobbying, and make nutrition a cornerstone of healthcare. Kennedy's focus on promoting healthier food choices could lead to reforms in food policy, such as updating dietary guidelines to reflect the importance of whole foods, limiting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, and supporting local and sustainable food systems. Kennedy's emphasis on clean food aligns with a "growing public concern" about the impact of processed foods and environmental toxins on health. By promoting cleaner food standards and a shift toward sustainable, whole food-based dietary guidelines, we aim to address chronic diseases at their roots. Kennedy's support for value-based care models could lead to more efficient and cost-effective healthcare delivery, improving access to care for underserved populations. This will also incentivize the development of innovative and more affordable healthcare solutions. Kennedy's personal experience with integrative medicine could lead to increased support for and greater access to alternative and complementary therapies, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing reliance on pharmaceuticals. Kennedy’s is not an ‘anti-vax’ position, but a pro-transparency, pro-science position. Patients deserve full access to data, risk-benefit analysis, and the ability to choose what is injected into their bodies without coercion or censorship. And I for one am excited about the future of our American healthcare system which means a better, stronger, and more fit police officer. Now go out, watch what you are eating, workout and train, and practice functional medicine! It’s time for Americans to re-focus once again on Mind, Spirit, and Body!
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This is Dr Currie Myers, America’s Criminologist. To view my work please visit drcurriemyers.substack.com and please share and like our page! And if you like my work here, you might want to follow me on my other Substack page, St Michael's Group | Dr Currie Myers | Substack, which focuses on reignited faith, family and formation back into our lives!
Stay safe and have a great weekend!
Dr C
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