Police Officer Deaths Up 55%
458 U.S. officers died in the line of duty in 2021

The number of officer deaths hasn't been this high since 1930

Any officer will tell you that being shot, stabbed or run over are all risks that come with their job, but not since 1930 have as many officers died in the line of duty as in 2021, according to a new report by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Our country has lost 458 people that voluntarily signed up to do a job, said Troy Anderson. Anderson says the numbers in the new report speak volumes: The overall line of duty deaths are up 55%. Ambush-style murders of police officers are up more than 300-percent from six in 2020, to 19 in 2021.

Last year there was a 93-percent jump in officers being struck and killed while outside their vehicles. COVID, contracted in the line of duty, accounted for the most officer deaths: 301 fatalities

We also looked at FBI data and found felonious deaths of officers were up more than 50%. The FBI says unprovoked attacks against officers “continued to outpace all other circumstances of felonious officer deaths.”

Texas, Florida and Georgia had the highest number of officers killed in 2021. The northeast United States, including DC, Maryland and Virginia, had some of the lowest rates of line-of-duty deaths.

Additional 2021 statistics:

● 61 officers were killed by firearms
● 4 officers were beaten to death
● 2 officers died from 9/11 related illnesses
● 3 officers were stabbed to death
● 21 canine officers died in the line of duty privateofficerbreakingnews.blogspot.com

More Fallout from Deadly Retail Shooting
Garcetti questions LAPD discipline for out-of-policy police shootings, orders review
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Thursday questioned whether LAPD officers who shoot people are sufficiently punished when the shootings violate department policies, ordering a review of such cases going back years.

Garcetti said that “quite often,” stiff penalties supported by elected officials and police leaders never materialize in such cases because discipline panels hand down lesser penalties — sometimes leaving officers who officials want to fire on the force.

Citing that and a report by the LAPD’s inspector general last year that found newer, all-civilian discipline panels have been even more lenient on errant officers, Garcetti said he had ordered the inspector general to assess the issue once more — this time producing a public report that will outline the discipline received by officers found to have broken policy in shootings in recent years, as well as the outcomes of any appeals they made to those punishments.

Craig Lally, president of the union that represents rank-and-file officers and which negotiates disciplinary processes with the department through collective bargaining negotiations, said the LAPD already has “robust civilian oversight” over officer discipline.

“What Mayor Garcetti ought to be focused on, before he departs to India, is how to reduce the 54% increase in homicides and shooting victims since 2019 that are causing terror in our city, especially amongst our Black and Latino residents who make up a disproportionate amount of these victims,” Lally said.

Garcetti’s comments come as he eyes a departure to become the United States’ ambassador to India, and amid intense scrutiny for the LAPD after officers in 2021 shot 37 people, killing 18 — including a 14-year-old bystander in a Burlington store two days before Christmas. latimes.com

Fatal Police Shooting Drop 13% in 2021
Fatal police shootings appear to dip in 2021 amid calls for reform on use of force

Florida saw the biggest drop in fatal police shootings.

Fatal police shootings have been a stubborn and increasingly visible flash point for tensions between communities and police, and the racial dynamics that underpin them, thanks in part to a proliferation of bystander video and police body camera footage.

But experts say there are some glimmers of hope -- early indications that a shift may be taking place.

With greater attention being paid to police-community relations, de-escalation training and diversity in the ranks, there were 888 fatal police shootings nationwide in 2021 -- down 133 from 1,021 in 2020, according to data from the Washington Post's database.

That's a decrease of 13% year-over-year. The lowest number of fatal shootings in a full calendar year in the database, which stretches back to 2015, is 957 in 2016 and the average is about 991.

From 2020 to 2021, Florida saw the largest numeric drop in deadly police shootings, from 93 to 44, followed by decreases in California and Washington, according to the Washington Post data.

While some states saw declines, others saw increases. Illinois saw 10 more fatal police shootings in 2021, Mississippi experienced a rise of eight and New Mexico, Georgia, Nebraska and Idaho had six more shootings.

Some experts caution that a one-year decline doesn’t tell us very much and a decline in the number of police interactions may be a factor (arrests, for instance, declined dramatically from 2019 to 2020, the most recent year for which FBI data is available.) abcnews.go.com

Op-Ed from U.S. Senator: Here's one way to stop smash mobs
We know online marketplaces are a venue for selling stolen merchandise. If we're going to deter criminals and end online fencing, we need to get giants like Amazon to be more transparent, writes U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin.

Milwaukee police chief addresses soaring crime in the city

Indianapolis hopes witness assistance program leads to more solved violent crimes

US: 65.2M Cases - 869.2K Dead - 42.9M Recovered
Worldwide: 321.1M Cases - 5.5M Dead - 264.3M Recovered

Former Senior Loss Prevention Executive
Know of any fallen LP exec? Let's remember & recognize.

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 343  
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 610
*Red indicates change in total deaths

Court Strikes Down Vaccine Mandate - Retail Groups Respond

Biden's Business Vaccine Mandate Struck Down
Supreme Court Blocks Biden Vaccine Rules for Large Employers

Justices allow Covid-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers whose facilities participate in Medicare and Medicaid

The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked the Biden administration’s Covid-19 vaccine-or-testing rules for large private employers, upending the government’s most aggressive effort to combat the pandemic via the workplace.

The high court, however, did give the administration more latitude in the healthcare industry, allowing it to impose a vaccine mandate for more than 10 million healthcare workers whose facilities participate in Medicare and Medicaid, a holding that leaves one part of the president’s Covid-19 playbook in place.

The private-employer requirements, for businesses with 100 or more employees, would have applied to an estimated 84 million workers. The court’s conservative majority, in an unsigned opinion, said the Biden administration likely didn’t have the unilateral power to impose a mandate that employers ensure their workers were vaccinated or tested every week for Covid-19. Three liberal justices dissented.

President Biden in a written statement said the high court’s decision to allow the healthcare vaccine mandate “will save lives,” but he expressed disappointment that the court blocked “common-sense life-saving requirements for employees at large businesses that were grounded squarely in both science and the law.”

The court’s decision on the requirements for large employers was a relief for some businesses, especially those that have said imposing a mandate would make it harder for them to compete for and keep workers. Other businesses already have adopted mandates for their workers on their own or because of local rules, for example in New York City. wsj.com

NRF Response
NRF Responds to Supreme Court Decision on OSHA Employer Vaccine Mandate
The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from Senior Vice President of Government Relations David French regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reimpose a stay of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 employer-based vaccination and testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). NRF joined more than 26 other trade associations last week to present oral arguments before the court on the legality of the mandate.

“While NRF has maintained a strong and consistent position related to the importance of vaccines in helping to overcome this pandemic, the Supreme Court’s decision to stay OSHA’s onerous and unprecedented ETS is a significant victory for employers. As NRF and other plaintiffs articulated in our briefs before the court, OSHA clearly exceeded its authority promulgating its original mandate under emergency powers without giving stakeholders the benefit of a rulemaking process.

“NRF urges the Biden Administration to discard this unlawful mandate and instead work with employers, employees and public health experts on practical ways to increase vaccination rates and mitigate the spread of the virus in 2022.” nrf.com

RILA Response
Retailers Remain Focused on Safety
The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) President Brian Dodge issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to halt the OSHA vaccine-or-testing ETS.

“We have raised concerns with OSHA and the Administration about the administrability of the mandate, including the current shortage of tests, but our primary focus at this stage is working with our members to ensure they have the information and tools they need to safely operate, manage their workforce, and meet the needs of their customers.” rila.org

FMI Response
FMI Welcomes U.S. Supreme Court Decision Pausing Implementation and Enforcement of OSHA COVID-19 Vaccine-Testing Mandate
Today, FMI – The Food Industry Association applauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to pause the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for COVID-19 vaccination and testing for private businesses. FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin made the following statement welcoming the Supreme Court’s ruling:

“We are pleased the Supreme Court recognized the challenges OSHA’s rule would have imposed on food retailers and manufacturers, our employees and, ultimately, American consumers. The Court’s decision today to pause OSHA’s vaccine and testing mandate for private businesses will help ensure the food industry is able to continue meeting our customers’ needs as efficiently and effectively as possible amid the ongoing supply chain and labor disruptions.

“FMI and our member companies remain committed to working with OSHA, the CDC, and the White House to encourage and facilitate vaccinations among our employees and communities while preserving our members’ ability to provide their customers with the foods and products they need to keep their families fed and safe in the new year." fmi.org

Businesses react to ruling against Biden vaccine mandate

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Biden urges employers to 'do the right thing' after Supreme Court blocks mandate


NRF Big Show & Omicron Impact

Safety is the NRF's Top Priority
COVID Safety Measures for NRF 2022
NRF is excited to bring its annual convention and expo back to New York City, and the health and safety of colleagues, exhibitors, presenters and attendees is our top priority.

NRF continues to work with local, state and federal health officials to ensure we have not only met but exceeded important safety guidelines and COVID-19 protocols, including requiring proof of vaccination and indoor mask-wearing.

Click here to see how the NRF is keeping attendees safe

Big Names Pull Back on NRF Big Show
Target, SAS, Others Cut Back Visits to NY Retail Trade Show as Omicron Spikes
Target Corp and computer software firm SAS are among major companies bowing out of what is billed as the retail industry's biggest annual trade show, slated to start Sunday in New York City's Javits Center.

Target, which had at least five executives slated to attend, said it has reduced team travel and its execs including President of the Target Foundation Amanda Nusz would now host virtual sessions. SAS, which sponsored at least eight sessions, announced on Twitter it was also participating virtually.

As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been ripping through New York, the National Retail Federation's (NRF) Big Show is the latest major convention to push forward with plans that could lead to a potential super spreader event.

At last week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), nearly 70 attendees, including some Samsung executives, tested positive for the virus. It was unclear whether they contracted the virus at the convention.

Executives from Walmart, Chewy, Best Buy and cloud-based retail platform NewStore are pressing on with plans to attend the 15,000-person retail trade show.

NRF is requiring conference attendees to show proof of vaccination and to wear masks. N95 and KN95 masks will be distributed along with COVID-19 rapid tests.  money.usnews.com

From Dec. 21, 2021: NRF Announces Health & Safety Investments for Big Show

In Case You Missed It: Omicron surge disrupts retail industry events


Omicron's Continued Impact on Retail, Supply Chains & More

More Omicron Store Closures
Walgreens, CVS Shut Some Pharmacies on Weekends as Omicron Strains Staffing

From Akron, Ohio, to New Gloucester, Maine, drugstore chains are temporarily closing understaffed locations

The biggest U.S. drugstore chains are shutting some pharmacies on weekends as the spread of Covid-19 and the Omicron variant exacerbates already severe staffing shortages.

CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. said weekend shutdowns are unusual but become a reality when locations lack enough pharmacists and technicians to remain open.

Supermarkets and U.S. retailers such as Macy’s Inc. and Walmart Inc. are also shortening hours as throngs of American workers stay home because they are sick, awaiting test results or caring for others with the virus.

Before Omicron’s spread, the drugstore chains, which collectively operate nearly 20,000 stores nationwide, were cutting hours, raising pay and scrambling to hire tens of thousands more workers to address staffing shortages. But with their roles as major providers of Covid-19 testing and vaccinations, the chains are also dealing with growing discontent among existing staff as well as customers’ concern about service. wsj.com

Omicron Surge to Make Supply Chain Snags Even Worse
COVID-19 infections at the nation's largest port jumped from a few cases to 800, threatening further delays as over 100 ships wait to dock and unload

1 in 10 dockworkers at the ports in Southern California are unable to work due to COVID-19.

The Omicron variant is threatening to make the historic backlog at the largest ports in the US even worse.

About 800 dockworkers were unable to work this week due to COVID-19 related issues, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The publication said the number represents about 1 in 10 of the two ports' daily workforce and includes workers who have tested positive for coronavirus, as well as those who are quarantining or felt ill.

COVID-19 infections at the ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach have increased exponentially over the past few weeks, in line with soaring infection rates in the overall US population. The Pacific Maritime Association told The Journal that the number of daily worker infections escalated from a few cases a day to about 150 a day last week. On Friday, Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC, said the Omicron variant has not yet hit its peak in the US.

Infection rates at the ports are already stalling efforts to clear a backlog of over 100 cargo ships. On Monday, less workers meant that 13 fewer ships were unloaded and loaded at the twin ports, while other ships received less longshoremen, The Journal reported. businessinsider.com

Curbing COVID in the Workplace
Workplace Health Scientists Urge Employers To Reduce Risk of COVID

Businesses and public health organizations have taken the Commit To C.A.R.E. pledge.

Leading health organizations on January 12, urged employers and employees to pledge to make their organizations and communities healthier and safer from COVID-19.

Businesses and public health organizations have taken the Commit To C.A.R.E. pledge including: National Safety Council, Society for Critical Care Medicine, the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare, and Indoor Air Quality Association Australia, among others.

Commit To C.A.R.E. is a new public education initiative that encourages employers and employees to commit to reducing the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace and communities by minimizing the risk of spreading COVID-19 and preparing buildings against the spread. The initiative is funded by a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Control and Prevention (CDC). ehstoday.com

COVID Tests Become an Employee Benefit
Why Some Workers Are Getting All the Covid Tests They Need
The latest Covid-19 wave has left millions of Americans scrambling for tests, braving long lines in the cold at pop-up sites or searching furiously online for kits to use at home. But for a select group of employees at some of the country’s largest companies, tests are free and often readily available.

Without an adequate federal system for developing and distributing rapid tests, companies have put their own testing services in place.

Google will send full-time employees in the United States free at-home tests that deliver results within minutes and retail for more than $70 each. BlackRock, an investment firm that manages nearly $10 trillion in assets, offers tele-health supervision as employees self-administer rapid tests for international travel. At JPMorgan Chase, bankers, including those at its retail sites, can order at-home rapid tests from an internal company site.

Some companies are using the tests to call their staff back to the office. For others, at-home Covid testing has become the newest wellness benefit, a perk to keep employees healthy and working — even from their couches — while providing peace of mind. nytimes.com

Latest COVID Surge Won't Derail Retail Rebound
Omicron 'unlikely to derail' economic growth: Moody's
Disruption from the rapid surge of the omicron COVID-19 variant is likely to be temporary and is "unlikely to derail" the economy's "solid expansionary path," Moody's analysts said in a recent report.

"Strong December retail sales and an improvement in consumer confidence confirm our view that the consumer response to each successive virus wave is becoming more muted," the analysts said.

Inflation, on the other hand, is likely to stick around for a while yet, but will moderate, according to Moody's. "[W]e now expect the carryover effects from higher goods prices to extend into the second half of this year as demand-supply issues for goods are taking longer to resolve," the analysts said.

For retail, the year 2021 was defined in large part by a fierce rebound in consumer demand. That demand lifted sales across much if not most of the entire industry, and it stressed supply chains throughout the country. retaildive.com

34 TSA Security Officers Have Died From Covid; 16,883 Have Tested Positive

DOJ Holds Chairman - Board of Dir.'s & C-Suite Accountable

$61M in Criminal Fines: Failure to Establish Independent Internal Investigative Office
Princess Cruise Lines Pleads Guilty to Second Revocation of Probation

Company Convicted of Violating Court Ordered Environmental Compliance Program

Miami, Florida — Princess Cruise Lines Ltd. (Princess) has pleaded guilty to a second violation of probation imposed as a result of its 2017 criminal conviction for environmental crimes because it failed to establish and maintain an independent internal investigative office. Under the terms of a plea agreement, Princess was ordered to pay an additional $1 million criminal fine and required to undertake remedial measures to ensure that it and its parent Carnival Cruise Lines & plc establish and maintain the independent internal investigative office known as the Incident Analysis Group (IAG).

Princess was convicted and sentenced in April 2017 and fined $40 million after pleading guilty to felony charges stemming from its deliberate dumping of oil-contaminated waste from one of its vessels and intentional acts to cover it up. This was and remains the largest-ever criminal fine for intentional pollution from ships. While serving five years of probation, all Carnival-related cruise line vessels trading in U.S. ports were required to comply with a court approved and supervised environmental compliance plan (ECP), including audits by an outside and independent third-party auditor (TPA) and oversight by a Court Appointed Monitor (CAM).

In 2019, Princess was convicted of six violations of probation, fined an additional $20 million, and required to undertake more remedial measures. In that case, two of the violations involved interfering with the court’s supervision of probation by sending undisclosed teams to ships to prepare them for the independent inspections required during probation. Documents filed in court showed that one purpose of the vessel visit programs was to avoid adverse findings by the independent outside auditors working on behalf of the court.

Beginning with the first year of probation, there have been repeated findings that the Company’s internal investigation program was and is inadequate. In November 2021, the Office of Probation issued a petition to revoke probation after adverse findings by the CAM and TPA.

In an October 2021 letter to U.S. District Court Judge Patricia A. Seitz, the CAM and TPA concluded that the continuing failure “reflects a deeper barrier: a culture that seeks to minimize or avoid information that is negative, uncomfortable, or threatening to the company, including to top leadership (i.e., the Board of Directors, C-Suite executives and Brand Presidents/CEOs).”

Continue Reading - Plea Agreement

Record-Breaking Holiday Season for Retail
NRF Says 2021 Holiday Sales Grew 14.1 Percent to Record $886.7 Billion
Retail sales during 2021’s November-December holiday season grew 14.1 percent over 2020 to $886.7 billion, easily beating the National Retail Federation’s forecast and setting a new record despite challenges from inflation, supply chain disruptions and the ongoing pandemic, NRF said today. The number includes online and other non-store sales, which were up 11.3 percent at $218.9 billion. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants to focus on core retail.

“Retail sales displayed solid momentum throughout the holiday season,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “Worries about inflation and COVID-19 put pressure on consumer attitudes but did not dampen spending, and sales were remarkably strong. Even though many consumers began shopping in October, this was the strongest November and December we’ve ever seen."

Both the amount spent and the growth rate are new highs, topping the previous records of $777.3 billion spent in 2020 and 8.2 percent growth that year. NRF forecast in October that 2021 holiday sales would increase between 8.5 percent and 10.5 percent over 2020 to between $843.4 billion and $859 billion, then said in December that growth could be as much as 11.5 percent. The 2021 growth compares with an average 4.4 percent holiday sales growth over the previous five years.

Online spending met NRF’s forecast, which called for growth of between 11 percent and 15 percent to between $218.3 billion and $226.2 billion. nrf.com

Retail Sales Down 1.9% in December
U.S. Retail Spending, Manufacturing Drop as Omicron and Inflation Surge

Retail sales dropped 1.9% in December, a big slowdown at the end of the holiday season

U.S. retail sales dropped by 1.9% in December, damping the end of the holiday shopping season, the Commerce Department said Friday. December’s sharp decline followed record-level retail sales that started with a 1.8% gain in October from the prior month.

Sales at retail stores, online and restaurants grew 16.9% in December.

Sales were down broadly across spending categories in December, with online sales dropping sharply by 8.7%.

Electronics stores declined by 2.9% over the previous month in December, while furniture and home stores dropped by 5.5%. Restaurant and bar sales dropped by 0.8%. Auto dealers saw a decline of 0.7%.

“The overall numbers are terrible, but the details are all over the map,” said Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics. “We expect a strong rebound in sales once the Omicron wave subsides.” wsj.com

Retail Rebound Facing Hurdles in 2022

Big names are overcoming supply problems, but concerns continue.

“Retail brands are bouncing back, with larger ancillary competitors and more diversified retailers like Walmart, Target and Costco carrying the market to new highs,” Curran noted. “That’s the case as pandemic worries persisted and further issues including supply chain, inflation, and labor problems came into play.”

Curran added that the resilience of retailers amid these headwinds is certainly surprising, especially given the emergence of the omicron strain. “While Amazon and e-commerce-focused retailers like Walmart were perhaps unsurprisingly powerful, the broader rally is no doubt calming for investors in the sector,” he said.

"However, the recent strength is not without those warning of a reversion in consumer spending habits after such strong trends of late. This is especially worrisome as a higher bar is inevitably set for retailers to top in 2022," he added. thestreet.com

Security Prevents Bomb Threat
Hard Rock Casino Security Find a Bomb, Prevent Loss of Life
A man is in custody accused of having a homemade explosive device at the Hard Rock Casino, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Investigators say they have surveillance video of the bags with the device being left under a set of stairs at the casino.

ATF agents say this could have been deadly if it wasn't for the quick work by the Cherokee Marshal and Security. They found the device, secured it, and within four hours the suspect, Zachary Shmidt, was arrested.

ATF agents say Zachary Schmidt told them he found the explosive device in a dumpster, then had it in his bag when he got a ride to the casino. Security at the Hard Rock saw the unattended bag and took it to a safe place and when they opened it, they found the explosive device.

"This could have been a catastrophic event, if it wasn't for the quick thinking of Cherokee Nation security, it could have been disastrous. It is a testament to the professionalism, Ashley Stephens with the Tulsa ATF Office. privateofficerbreakingnews.blogspot.com

Office Depot parent delays spin-off after getting new offer for consumer business

Mastercard CEO says consumer spending looks ‘relatively positive’ for ’22

Hawaii company to pay $1.5M to security guards after denying overtime wages

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day,
the D&D Daily will not publish Monday, Jan. 17.
 
We will resume publication on Tuesday, Jan. 18.