I featured the Baltimore Police Department in the last edition (the next is in process) of Why Law Enforcement Organizations Fail (Carolina Academic Press, 2012) due to pockets of corruption thriving in the absence of effective oversight.  Not much seems to have changed since then, if this story is any indication.

The potential for miscommunication, misread situations and fatal mistake goes through the roof when cops confront emotionally disturbed individuals.  From the Eleanor Bumpurs case over 30 years ago to recurring tragedies with similar story lines, police still struggle to get it right. If not, officers may pay a stiff price, as may happen here.

The print media (now enhanced by what digital editions allow) continues to be my go-to sources for the facts of the matter, such as an this New York Times inventory of disciplinary and legal actions against officers involved in high profile, race-involved shootings.