LEO Round Table, May 19, 2026

LEO Round Table, May 25, 2026

LEO Round Table with Chip DeBlock S11E101 Judge Rules Initial Search Of Assassin’s Backpack As Unconstitutional - LEO Round Table Judge rules initial search of assassin’s backpack as unconstitutional. Officers on duty for J6 riot sue government officials over $1.6B fund. Drone video shows police BearCat running over armed man who killed cop. Backpack Evidence, January 6 Litigation, and a BearCat’s Deadly End to an Armed Standoff Chip DeBlock Introduces the Law Enforcement Roundtable In this episode of LEO Roundtable, host Chip DeBlock introduces a law-enforcement-focused discussion with attorney Anthony Bandiero of Blue to Gold and retired Tulsa Police Department major Dr. Travis Yates. After acknowledging the program’s sponsors and distribution outlets, Chip previews several law enforcement and legal stories, including evidence issues in the case involving the accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a lawsuit connected with January 6 officers and an anti-weaponization fund, and video of an armored BearCat vehicle striking an armed suspect who had allegedly killed a sheriff’s detective. Backpack Evidence in the UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Case The first major discussion concerns a New York state-court ruling involving evidence seized from the backpack of the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Chip explains that the suspect was arrested at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania and that a New York judge ruled the initial search of the backpack unconstitutional because the bag had been moved away from the suspect before it was searched. However, a later inventory search conducted at the police station was ruled lawful, allowing the suspected murder weapon to remain available for the state prosecution. Chip also notes that the separate federal case reached a different result, allowing additional backpack evidence to be used. Anthony Bandiero Explains Search, Inventory, and Officer-Safety Issues Anthony Bandiero provides the legal analysis, explaining the distinctions between a search incident to arrest, an inventory search, and a protective sweep for weapons. He says New York applies stricter requirements than many other jurisdictions, particularly regarding whether an item remains within a suspect’s immediate reach and whether urgent circumstances exist. Anthony criticizes the argument that officers searched the bag because it might contain a bomb, saying the officers’ conduct did not appear consistent with an actual bomb threat response. At the same time, he says officers had an objective officer-safety basis to believe the backpack could contain a firearm, given that they were arresting a suspected shooter. Lessons for Officers Handling High-Profile Arrest Evidence Chip and Anthony use the ruling as a training discussion for officers and agencies. Anthony says that in an ordinary case, officers could conduct a legitimate inventory search on scene or perform a carefully documented protective sweep based on objective safety concerns. In a nationally prominent murder case, however, he says the cleanest approach may have been to secure the backpack, seek a telephonic search warrant, and then open it only after obtaining judicial authorization. Chip adds that seeking consent could also provide an extra layer of protection, even if investigators intended to obtain a warrant. Their larger message is that officers need clear legal training because evidence decisions made during an arrest can later determine what survives in court. January 6 Officers Challenge an Anti-Weaponization Fund The panel next discusses a lawsuit filed by two officers who served during the January 6, 2021, Capitol unrest. Chip says the officers are seeking to stop payments from a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund established by President Trump’s administration for people it believes were unfairly treated by the Biden Justice Department. He notes that one of the plaintiffs is a current Metropolitan Police Department officer and the other is a former Capitol Police officer who is now running in a Democratic congressional primary. Travis responds critically, arguing that the fund is intended for people he believes were improperly targeted by federal authorities and expressing frustration with what he considers misleading narratives surrounding January 6. BearCat Vehicle Ends Standoff with Armed Suspect In the final extensively discussed incident, the panel reviews drone and body-camera footage involving a Kern County Sheriff’s Office BearCat armored vehicle. Chip says the suspect, David Eric Morales, had allegedly shot and killed Tulare County Sheriff’s Detective Randy Harbert during an attempted eviction-related encounter and later fired additional rounds at the BearCat during a standoff. The footage reportedly shows the armored vehicle driving over Morales, killing him. Chip reports that the use of force was determined to be justified, while Anthony and Travis express support for the action based on the suspect’s lethal conduct and ongoing threat. The episode closes with acknowledgments of the panelists, sponsors, training resources, and the program’s law-enforcement audience.

LEO Round Table, May 22, 2026

LEO Round Table with Chip DeBlock S11E100, New Details Emerge Of The San Diego Mosque Shooting That Left Three Dead New details emerge of the San Diego Mosque shooting that left three dead. Officer charged in the fatal shooting of a suspect who approached him with a knife. New Details Emerge in Deadly San Diego Mosque Shooting; Officers Debate Knife-Threat Shooting Charge SAN DIEGO SHOOTING DISCUSSED The host opens the episode by introducing Chief Ralph and outlining several law-enforcement stories planned for discussion. The principal first topic is the deadly attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, where the host says two teenage suspects killed three men before apparently dying by suicide. The program treats the attack as a developing investigation, discussing reported extremist material, possible hate-crime motivation, and investigators’ efforts to determine how the suspects acquired weapons and tactical gear. SECURITY GUARD REMEMBERED AS A HERO A central focus of the San Diego discussion is an armed security guard identified in the transcript as Abdullah. The host and Chief Ralph describe him as a hero who engaged the attackers, continued responding after being struck, and initiated a lockdown that protected people inside the mosque, including many children. They also mention a fundraiser for his surviving family and emphasize their belief that his actions kept the attack from becoming even more devastating. TRAINING, PREPAREDNESS, AND FAMILY ACCOUNTABILITY The host and Chief Ralph reflect on officer-survival training and the lesson that a person who has been wounded may still be able to fight back and protect others. Chief Ralph raises questions about whether the suspects had surveilled the mosque and whether parents should be held accountable when minors gain access to firearms. Both speakers present the attack as a reminder that houses of worship must be alert to security threats and prepared to respond. CONNECTICUT OFFICER FACES MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE The second major subject concerns a former Hartford, Connecticut, police officer charged with first-degree manslaughter after fatally shooting Steven Jones, who the speakers describe as advancing with a knife. The host reviews reported criticisms of the officer, including that other officers had been on scene longer without firing, that less-lethal options were not used, and that the officer allegedly failed to adequately de-escalate the encounter before using deadly force. DEBATE OVER COMMAND, DE-ESCALATION, AND DEADLY FORCE Chief Ralph criticizes the handling of the Connecticut incident before the shooting, saying he saw too many officers issuing commands, inadequate containment, ineffective scene control, and missed opportunities for alternative tactics. The host agrees that the earlier response lacked command presence but argues that an officer facing an advancing knife-armed subject should not be required to repeat failed de-escalation efforts or retreat in a way that increases his vulnerability. Their disagreement illustrates differing law-enforcement philosophies concerning lethal threats and de-escalation standards. POLICY, POLITICS, AND OFFICER DECISION-MAKING The speakers broaden the discussion to California use-of-force review standards and what Chief Ralph characterizes as political influence on officer-involved-shooting decisions. Both say agencies should use incidents like the Hartford shooting for training, especially concerning command presence, less-lethal resources, crossfire risks, and containment. The show closes with sponsor acknowledgments and a promise to continue following developments in the Connecticut officer’s case.

LEO Round Table, May 21, 2026

LEO Round Table with Chip DeBlock S11E099, Teenager Lucky To Be Alive After Being Caught During ‘Water Wars’ Game White house moves for end of cashless bail and threats against officers. Sheriff calls for calm in Key West as leaked intel warns of Cuban drone plots. FBI puts $200K bounty on defector who fled to Iran. Sergeant and Sheriff stabbed during attempted arrest. Cop stabbed multiple times in ambush attack by suspect. FBI Report Shows Lower Line-of-Duty Deaths but Rising Assaults The episode opens with a discussion of the FBI’s 2025 report on officers killed and assaulted in the line of duty. Chip DeBlock explains that the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program released preliminary counts showing 53 officers feloniously killed in 2025, which was fewer than the previous two years. However, the report also showed an increase in assaults against officers, with over 90,000 reported assaults and a rate of 13.8 assaults per 100 officers. Ken Appianco says the increase in assaults is the most troubling part of the report, especially because he has observed similar concerns in active law enforcement. Local Officer’s Role in Butler Rally Shooting Reconsidered The show then discusses a report about Sergeant Aaron Zaloponi, a local Pennsylvania law enforcement officer honored by the NRA. According to the transcript, Zaloponi served in a local counter-assault role during the Butler rally involving President Donald Trump. Chip describes the sequence of shots and says Zaloponi fired one shot at the suspect before the Secret Service counter-sniper fired the final shot. Both Chip and Ken say they had not previously heard this version of the account, and Ken praises the officer’s reported response as outstanding, while noting that the article presents a different understanding than the one many people may have had. Water Wars Incident Nearly Ends in Deadly Force A major portion of the episode focuses on a Davison Township, Michigan bodycam video involving a teenager playing Water Wars with a squirt gun. The officer was responding to a 911 call involving possible suspicious activity or a burglary, and the teenager jumped out near the officer and sprayed him with water from what appeared in the moment to be a weapon. Chip and Ken both emphasize how quickly the incident unfolded and say the officer would likely have been legally justified if he had fired. They also highlight the emotional burden the officer could have faced if the encounter had ended in the teenager’s death. Bodycam Footage and Training Lessons The speakers use the Water Wars incident to discuss police training, body cameras, and the limits of scenario-based instruction. Ken says most officers would likely have fired in the same circumstances, given the nighttime setting, the 911 burglary call, and the sudden movement with an object in hand. Chip raises whether such a scenario could be fairly used in training, and Ken says it would not be a fair training scenario because an officer facing a real gun in that moment could be killed. They also agree that the bodycam footage is important because it shows the full context of the officer’s split-second decision. San Diego Pen Attack Leads to Officer-Involved Shooting The episode next covers a San Diego incident in which a woman allegedly attacked a man with a ballpoint pen and was shot by police. Chip describes the officer’s efforts to order her to drop what he believed might be a pick or weapon, while also trying to move bystanders out of the line of fire. The woman was reportedly hit at least twice but continued standing and moving, which Ken says is highly unusual compared with other shooting cases he has seen. The speakers consider the shooting justified based on the woman’s continued threat to the man she was chasing. Firearm Preemption and Virginia Gun Restrictions The final part of the episode turns to firearms law and political disputes in Florida and Virginia. Chip and Ken discuss Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier threatening personal consequences for officials after a local police department posted firearm restrictions for a public festival, with Ken explaining Florida’s firearm preemption rules. The discussion then moves to Virginia, where new restrictions on semi-automatic firearms are challenged by pro-Second Amendment groups and rejected by a local prosecutor who says he will not enforce them. Ken argues the Virginia restrictions are unlikely to survive legal scrutiny and frames them as politically motivated.

LEO Round Table, May 20, 2026

S11E098, White House Moves For End Of Cashless Bail And Threats Against Officers White house moves for end of cashless bail and threats against officers. Sheriff calls for calm in Key West as leaked intel warns of Cuban drone plots. FBI puts $200K bounty on defector who fled to Iran. Sergeant and Sheriff stabbed during attempted arrest. Cop stabbed multiple times in ambush attack by suspect. Title: Police Week Honors, Law Enforcement Support, and Officer Survival Lessons from Knife Attacks Six-Paragraph Summary Police Week and National Recognition The episode opens with host Chip DeBlock introducing Leo Roundtable and retired police chief Dr. Joel Shults before turning to Police Week. The discussion focuses on the National Peace Officers Memorial Service, the candlelight vigil, and the addition of names to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The speakers describe the ceremonies as meaningful to law enforcement families and emphasize the importance of honoring officers who died in the line of duty. J.D. Vance and Federal Support for Police The speakers discuss Vice President J.D. Vance’s keynote appearance at the 45th Peace Officers Memorial Service and present his remarks as supportive of law enforcement families. They also discuss federal directives that, according to the host, were timed around Police Week. These include seeking the death penalty in federal prosecutions involving the intentional murder of law enforcement officers, funding consequences tied to cashless bail policies, and the reinstatement of the 1033 military surplus program. Injured Officers and the 1033 Program Dr. Shults broadens the Police Week discussion by emphasizing that injured and disabled officers should also be remembered, not only those who died in the line of duty. He notes that officers may lose mobility, careers, or long-term health because of line-of-duty injuries. The discussion then moves into the 1033 program, where Shults argues that access to armored vehicles and protective gear can be essential for smaller agencies, while also acknowledging broader public concerns about the appearance of militarized policing. Cuban Drone Concerns and Local Homeland Security The program briefly addresses a report about alleged Cuban drone plots involving Key West, Guantanamo Bay, and American military vessels. The host states that local officials, including the Monroe County sheriff, had not confirmed the threat at the time of the discussion. Shults uses the topic to explain why local law enforcement can have an important role in homeland security, especially when potential threats involve infrastructure, ports, waterways, or areas close to hostile actors. Air Force Defector Accused of Aiding Iran The episode then turns to the case of former U.S. Air Force intelligence specialist Monica Witt, who is discussed as a defector accused of providing classified information to Iran. The host says federal authorities renewed attention on the case with a $200,000 reward. Shults comments that sensitive information can be accessed by enlisted personnel and contractors as well as senior officials, and he frames such access as both necessary and vulnerable. The speakers speculate about why the renewed reward effort may have been announced, while acknowledging that some details are not known. Officer Safety Lessons from Knife Attacks The final major portion of the episode reviews two body-camera incidents involving officers stabbed during confrontations. One involved Wayne County, Ohio officers, including a sheriff and sergeant, and the other involved a Marion County, Florida deputy who was ambushed and stabbed in the chest. Shults emphasizes the danger of close-range blitz attacks, the value of distance and verbal commands, the importance of tourniquets and bleeding-control training, and the risks of pursuing armed suspects into wooded areas. The episode closes with sponsor acknowledgments and a mention of The Wounded Blue. Keywords Police Week, Leo Roundtable, J.D. Vance, law enforcement memorial, 1033 program, cashless bail, officer safety, police body cam, Wayne County stabbing, Marion County deputy, Monica Witt, The Wounded Blue

LEO Round Table, May 19, 2026

S11E097, Cop Fights Close Quarters With Bad Guy After He Pulls Out A Knife On Video Texas border czar resigns amid allegations. Ex-army employee arrested for leaking classified info to reporter. Intelligence analyst arrested for transferring information to China. Suspect fatally shot after reaching for gun in waistband. Cop fights close quarters with bad guy after he pulls out a knife on video. Title: Border Patrol Resignation, Classified Leaks, and Use-of-Force Video Analysis Six-Paragraph Summary Opening the Law Enforcement Panel Chip DeBlock opens the episode of LEO Round Table by introducing the panel and explaining that the show discusses current news and public-safety issues from a law enforcement perspective. The panel includes Dr. Joel Shults, Danny King, and Scott Steier, each bringing a different background in policing, use-of-force analysis, leadership, or military operations. Chip also acknowledges the show’s sponsors, platforms, and partners before previewing several topics involving border leadership, classified information leaks, and police bodycam videos. Mike Banks Resignation and Border Patrol Concerns The first major topic concerns Mike Banks, described in the transcript as President Trump’s handpicked leader of the U.S. Border Patrol and a former Texas border czar. Chip explains that Banks resigned abruptly while framing the decision as the close of a 37-year career, but the panel also discusses allegations involving overseas trips and alleged misconduct. Dr. Joel Shults comments that such allegations, if true, raise moral concerns because border agencies are involved in combating trafficking and exploitation. The panel distinguishes between Banks’ professional work on border issues and the reputational damage caused by unresolved allegations. Classified Leaks and National Security Risks The panel then discusses two stories involving alleged leaks or transmission of classified national defense information. One concerns Courtney Williams, a former Army employee accused of sharing sensitive information with a journalist for a book or article. The second involves a former Marine Corps intelligence analyst accused of transmitting national defense information to China. The panel discusses possible motives such as money, ego, relationships, or ideology, while emphasizing that classified information can be exposed by people in many roles, not only high-ranking officials. Espionage, Human Vulnerability, and Informant Tactics A major theme of the episode is how people with access to sensitive information may be manipulated or “pitched” by others. Danny King and Scott Steier discuss how trained intelligence operatives or investigators can build trust, appeal to ego, and gradually extract information. Chip connects the discussion to his own organized-crime work, describing how people tried to obtain or sell law enforcement information connected to vice investigations. The discussion presents information security as both a training issue and a human-behavior issue. Miami-Dade Shooting and Legal Review The panel next analyzes a bodycam incident from Miami-Dade County involving a domestic-violence call, an armed suspect, and a deputy-involved fatal shooting. Chip describes the suspect as revealing a gun in his waistband and then reaching toward it despite commands not to do so. Danny King and Dr. Shults discuss how plaintiffs’ attorneys may frame such incidents in civil litigation, including arguments about whether a suspect was complying, whether warnings were given, and how courts may view evidence. The panel presents the shooting as legally and tactically complex while emphasizing the speed and danger of armed encounters. Virginia Knife Struggle and Officer Survival Tactics The final video discussion involves a Virginia officer attempting to arrest a man with warrants who resisted and produced a knife during a struggle. Chip describes the officer using repeated commands and closed-fist strikes until the suspect dropped the knife. Scott Steier praises the officer’s physical response while suggesting that a tool like the Compliant Technologies Glove might have shortened the struggle. Danny King adds that prolonged fights with armed or resisting suspects increase the chance of injury, and that officers must end such struggles quickly and lawfully. The episode closes with sponsor acknowledgments and a reminder about The Wounded Blue’s work supporting officers. SEO Keywords LEO Round Table, Chip DeBlock, law enforcement podcast, Border Patrol resignation, Mike Banks, classified information leak, Espionage Act, Delta Force discussion, police use of force, Miami-Dade shooting, bodycam analysis, officer safety