Sam Stecklow
@samstecklow.bsky.social
journalist & FOIA fellow @invisible.institute
indie local news cheerleader
if you were really smart, you’d know what to do
orlando
he/him
indie local news cheerleader
if you were really smart, you’d know what to do
orlando
he/him
Pinned
Sam Stecklow
@samstecklow.bsky.social
· Sep 24
Minnesota police group fights release of undercover officers’ names
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association is suing the Minnesota POST forreleasing the names of undercover police officers to media outlets, but many have already been publiclyidentified.
sahanjournal.com
NEW: After @invisible.institute published MN police data, the board that released the data was sued under claims that 257 undercover officers had been exposed.
Today, a review by II + @sahanjournal.bsky.social finds that all but 3 had info online IDing them as police—before the release of our data.
Today, a review by II + @sahanjournal.bsky.social finds that all but 3 had info online IDing them as police—before the release of our data.
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
NEW: Newly released video of a December 2023 incident inside the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center has raised questions about a judge’s decision to acquit one of the officers involved, experts and advocates told Injustice Watch. buff.ly/uM9m0zx
‘Horrific’ video of incident at Chicago’s juvenile jail raises questions about recent trial, experts say
Former Juvenile Temporary Detention Center employee Kevin Walker was acquitted last month of charges related to the incident, which left a 15-year-old boy bruised and unconscious.
www.injusticewatch.org
November 12, 2025 at 6:09 PM
NEW: Newly released video of a December 2023 incident inside the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center has raised questions about a judge’s decision to acquit one of the officers involved, experts and advocates told Injustice Watch. buff.ly/uM9m0zx
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
NEWS: ICE agent charged with drunken driving after shift at Broadview detention center. Car crash into a hedgerow. Trump’s Midway Blitz is claimed to be inspired by an undocumented drunk driving death.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/i...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/i...
‘Doesn’t look good’: ICE agent charged with drunken driving after shift at Broadview detention center
An Immigration and Enforcement agent has been charged with drunken driving after his car crashed after a shift at the Broadview detention center.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:17 PM
NEWS: ICE agent charged with drunken driving after shift at Broadview detention center. Car crash into a hedgerow. Trump’s Midway Blitz is claimed to be inspired by an undocumented drunk driving death.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/i...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/i...
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
Every time #Florida tried to regulate polluters, the polluters bought enough politicians to make the state back off -- hence the rampant contamination of FL waterways. An investigation by the @tampabaytimes.bsky.social that quantifies the damage done. project.tampabay.com/investigatio...
Wasting Away: Florida lets big companies pollute with impunity. Waterways suffer | TampaBay.com
For decades, Florida has failed to cut contamination — at the benefit of businesses that cause it.
project.tampabay.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Every time #Florida tried to regulate polluters, the polluters bought enough politicians to make the state back off -- hence the rampant contamination of FL waterways. An investigation by the @tampabaytimes.bsky.social that quantifies the damage done. project.tampabay.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
Federal agencies paid $1.5 million to a local nonlethal weapons manufacturer in Chicago for air-powered guns and pepper balls. It also paid $7.3 million to a downtown real estate company to relocate ICE agents leading up to Operation Midway Blitz. blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/23/c...
Chicago-Area Companies Raked In Millions From Feds As Operation Midway Blitz Intensified
One Chicago-based company was awarded more than $7 million to relocate ICE employees while a suburban weapons manufacturer was paid nearly $1.5 million in two weeks to supply pepper balls and air-powe...
blockclubchicago.org
October 23, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Federal agencies paid $1.5 million to a local nonlethal weapons manufacturer in Chicago for air-powered guns and pepper balls. It also paid $7.3 million to a downtown real estate company to relocate ICE agents leading up to Operation Midway Blitz. blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/23/c...
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
In the wake of Charlie Kirk's death, a TN sheriff had a 61-yr-old man arrested for posting a meme on Facebook, which the sheriff absurdly construed as a threat. It was pretty clearly bullshit but I dug into the case using FB & public records and now it looks even worse. My latest @theintercept.com:
The Absurd Prosecution of a Man Who Posted a Charlie Kirk Meme
Larry Bushart Jr. posted trolling memes on a Facebook thread about a vigil for Kirk. He’s been in a Tennessee jail ever since.
theintercept.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
In the wake of Charlie Kirk's death, a TN sheriff had a 61-yr-old man arrested for posting a meme on Facebook, which the sheriff absurdly construed as a threat. It was pretty clearly bullshit but I dug into the case using FB & public records and now it looks even worse. My latest @theintercept.com:
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
Learn about using police employment and misconduct data housed in the National Police Index and Police Records Access Project, two new databases for use by journalists, attorneys, researchers, and members of the public.
We'll be presenting at @ire.org's AccessFest this weekend.
We'll be presenting at @ire.org's AccessFest this weekend.
October 7, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Learn about using police employment and misconduct data housed in the National Police Index and Police Records Access Project, two new databases for use by journalists, attorneys, researchers, and members of the public.
We'll be presenting at @ire.org's AccessFest this weekend.
We'll be presenting at @ire.org's AccessFest this weekend.
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
The first episode of the Things That Go Boom podcast's new season is here.
@tkbarnes.bsky.social does a deep dive into the Utah desert, where Northrop Grumman is building the next generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles with the help of massive state subsidies.
@tkbarnes.bsky.social does a deep dive into the Utah desert, where Northrop Grumman is building the next generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles with the help of massive state subsidies.
Big Promises, Small Print
We examine how the war machine hides in plain sight. And we follow the reporters and local watchdogs still trying to uncover the truth.
inkstickmedia.com
September 22, 2025 at 1:46 PM
The first episode of the Things That Go Boom podcast's new season is here.
@tkbarnes.bsky.social does a deep dive into the Utah desert, where Northrop Grumman is building the next generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles with the help of massive state subsidies.
@tkbarnes.bsky.social does a deep dive into the Utah desert, where Northrop Grumman is building the next generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles with the help of massive state subsidies.
Learn about using police employment and misconduct data housed in the National Police Index and Police Records Access Project, two new databases for use by journalists, attorneys, researchers, and members of the public.
We'll be presenting at @ire.org's AccessFest this weekend.
We'll be presenting at @ire.org's AccessFest this weekend.
October 7, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Learn about using police employment and misconduct data housed in the National Police Index and Police Records Access Project, two new databases for use by journalists, attorneys, researchers, and members of the public.
We'll be presenting at @ire.org's AccessFest this weekend.
We'll be presenting at @ire.org's AccessFest this weekend.
As @invisible.institute + @mindsitenews.bsky.social reported earlier this year, involuntary commitment is an increasingly popular response to mental health crises and homelessness across the U.S. — including in some Democratic-led cities, like Chicago, that are quieter in their advocacy for it.
October 7, 2025 at 3:06 PM
As @invisible.institute + @mindsitenews.bsky.social reported earlier this year, involuntary commitment is an increasingly popular response to mental health crises and homelessness across the U.S. — including in some Democratic-led cities, like Chicago, that are quieter in their advocacy for it.
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
NEW: In the weeks leading up to a massive ICE raid at a South Shore apartment building, neighbors saw drones surveilling the area, and teachers at a nearby school regularly saw agents in the neighborhood.
✍️ Jose Abonce for the Weekly and Maira Khwaja for @invisible.institute
✍️ Jose Abonce for the Weekly and Maira Khwaja for @invisible.institute
Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children
Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.
southsideweekly.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:16 PM
NEW: In the weeks leading up to a massive ICE raid at a South Shore apartment building, neighbors saw drones surveilling the area, and teachers at a nearby school regularly saw agents in the neighborhood.
✍️ Jose Abonce for the Weekly and Maira Khwaja for @invisible.institute
✍️ Jose Abonce for the Weekly and Maira Khwaja for @invisible.institute
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
New from 404 Media: Apple just removed ICEBlock, the app for reporting sightings of ICE, from its App Store after DOJ pressure. ICEBlock's developer tells me "we are determined to fight this."
"Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never the right move."
www.404media.co/iceblock-own...
"Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never the right move."
www.404media.co/iceblock-own...
ICEBlock Owner After Apple Removes App: ‘We Are Determined to Fight This’
Apple removed ICEBlock reportedly after direct pressure from Department of Justice officials. “I am incredibly disappointed by Apple's actions today. Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never t...
www.404media.co
October 3, 2025 at 2:21 AM
New from 404 Media: Apple just removed ICEBlock, the app for reporting sightings of ICE, from its App Store after DOJ pressure. ICEBlock's developer tells me "we are determined to fight this."
"Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never the right move."
www.404media.co/iceblock-own...
"Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never the right move."
www.404media.co/iceblock-own...
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
NEW — An estimated 40 people were taken by federal agents in an overnight raid in South Shore, a predominantly-Black neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side.
A couple who live nearby said they were shocked to see the enormous militarized raid in their community.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/feds...
A couple who live nearby said they were shocked to see the enormous militarized raid in their community.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/feds...
Feds detain dozens of immigrants in 'massive' South Shore apartment building raid in Chicago • The TRiiBE
An estimated 40 people were taken by federal agents in the course of the overnight raid in the predominately-Black neighborhood.
thetriibe.com
October 1, 2025 at 12:34 AM
NEW — An estimated 40 people were taken by federal agents in an overnight raid in South Shore, a predominantly-Black neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side.
A couple who live nearby said they were shocked to see the enormous militarized raid in their community.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/feds...
A couple who live nearby said they were shocked to see the enormous militarized raid in their community.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/feds...
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
NEW from @injusticewatch.org and @boltsmag.org: Cook County has more documented wrongful convictions than any county in the nation. In the last 10 months, State’s Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke has weakened her office’s main system for freeing innocent people. buff.ly/ysPtaYG
Cook County’s new prosecutor has weakened an already broken system for freeing the innocent
State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s Conviction Integrity Unit hasn’t exonerated anyone in her 10 months on the job, and she has done little to confront more than a dozen coercion allegations…
www.injusticewatch.org
September 30, 2025 at 1:13 PM
NEW from @injusticewatch.org and @boltsmag.org: Cook County has more documented wrongful convictions than any county in the nation. In the last 10 months, State’s Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke has weakened her office’s main system for freeing innocent people. buff.ly/ysPtaYG
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
NEW: After @invisible.institute published MN police data, the board that released the data was sued under claims that 257 undercover officers had been exposed.
Today, a review by II + @sahanjournal.bsky.social finds that all but 3 had info online IDing them as police—before the release of our data.
Today, a review by II + @sahanjournal.bsky.social finds that all but 3 had info online IDing them as police—before the release of our data.
Minnesota police group fights release of undercover officers’ names
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association is suing the Minnesota POST forreleasing the names of undercover police officers to media outlets, but many have already been publiclyidentified.
sahanjournal.com
September 24, 2025 at 6:02 PM
NEW: After @invisible.institute published MN police data, the board that released the data was sued under claims that 257 undercover officers had been exposed.
Today, a review by II + @sahanjournal.bsky.social finds that all but 3 had info online IDing them as police—before the release of our data.
Today, a review by II + @sahanjournal.bsky.social finds that all but 3 had info online IDing them as police—before the release of our data.
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
NEW — Video posted to social media shows Unraveled Press co-founder Steve Held being detained by federal agents outside the Broadview immigration facility earlier this evening.
A collection of Chicago newsrooms is calling for his immediate release.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/chic...
A collection of Chicago newsrooms is calling for his immediate release.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/chic...
Chicago journalist detained while covering protest outside Broadview immigration facility • The TRiiBE
Video posted to social media shows Unraveled Press co-founder Steve Held being detained by federal agents earlier this evening.
thetriibe.com
September 28, 2025 at 3:11 AM
NEW — Video posted to social media shows Unraveled Press co-founder Steve Held being detained by federal agents outside the Broadview immigration facility earlier this evening.
A collection of Chicago newsrooms is calling for his immediate release.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/chic...
A collection of Chicago newsrooms is calling for his immediate release.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/chic...
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
"All but three of the 257 officers claiming to be working undercover had information available online linking their given name with being a #police officer in Minnesota before the release of the POST data". sahanjournal.com/news-partner...
Minnesota police group fights release of undercover officers’ names
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association is suing the Minnesota POST forreleasing the names of undercover police officers to media outlets, but many have already been publiclyidentified.
sahanjournal.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:00 PM
"All but three of the 257 officers claiming to be working undercover had information available online linking their given name with being a #police officer in Minnesota before the release of the POST data". sahanjournal.com/news-partner...
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
Undercover Minnesota officers suing oversight board to block release have public LinkedIns, discipline and shootings, @samstecklow.bsky.social reports
sahanjournal.com/news-partner...
sahanjournal.com/news-partner...
Minnesota police group fights release of undercover officers’ names
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association is suing the Minnesota POST forreleasing the names of undercover police officers to media outlets, but many have already been publiclyidentified.
sahanjournal.com
September 24, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Undercover Minnesota officers suing oversight board to block release have public LinkedIns, discipline and shootings, @samstecklow.bsky.social reports
sahanjournal.com/news-partner...
sahanjournal.com/news-partner...
NEW: After @invisible.institute published MN police data, the board that released the data was sued under claims that 257 undercover officers had been exposed.
Today, a review by II + @sahanjournal.bsky.social finds that all but 3 had info online IDing them as police—before the release of our data.
Today, a review by II + @sahanjournal.bsky.social finds that all but 3 had info online IDing them as police—before the release of our data.
Minnesota police group fights release of undercover officers’ names
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association is suing the Minnesota POST forreleasing the names of undercover police officers to media outlets, but many have already been publiclyidentified.
sahanjournal.com
September 24, 2025 at 6:02 PM
NEW: After @invisible.institute published MN police data, the board that released the data was sued under claims that 257 undercover officers had been exposed.
Today, a review by II + @sahanjournal.bsky.social finds that all but 3 had info online IDing them as police—before the release of our data.
Today, a review by II + @sahanjournal.bsky.social finds that all but 3 had info online IDing them as police—before the release of our data.
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
Today marks the one year anniversary since HRDAG and our partners at @invisible.institute , Innocence & Justice Louisiana, and Machine Learning Justice Lab launched the National Police Index, a project to shed light on police employment history data. www.nprillinois.org/news/2024-10...
Want to know a police officer’s job history? There’s a new tool
The Invisible Institute helped create the site. Users can select a state, then search an officer’s name, agency or unique identifier number.
www.nprillinois.org
September 19, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Today marks the one year anniversary since HRDAG and our partners at @invisible.institute , Innocence & Justice Louisiana, and Machine Learning Justice Lab launched the National Police Index, a project to shed light on police employment history data. www.nprillinois.org/news/2024-10...
A good story on Missouri’s broken police decertification system.
Last year, I wrote a related story about how the state POST refuses to release data showing the employment histories of officers in the state — preventing a full analysis of the “municipal shuffle” of officers in St. Louis Metro:
Last year, I wrote a related story about how the state POST refuses to release data showing the employment histories of officers in the state — preventing a full analysis of the “municipal shuffle” of officers in St. Louis Metro:
September 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
A good story on Missouri’s broken police decertification system.
Last year, I wrote a related story about how the state POST refuses to release data showing the employment histories of officers in the state — preventing a full analysis of the “municipal shuffle” of officers in St. Louis Metro:
Last year, I wrote a related story about how the state POST refuses to release data showing the employment histories of officers in the state — preventing a full analysis of the “municipal shuffle” of officers in St. Louis Metro:
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
Police secrecy bill would shield undercover California officers in misconduct cases
Police secrecy bill would shield undercover California officers in misconduct cases
Press advocates and police watchdogs said a proposal under consideration in Sacramento would gut transparency reforms passed in recent years.
www.latimes.com
September 11, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Police secrecy bill would shield undercover California officers in misconduct cases
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
Journalist Mario Guevara has now been detained for almost 100 days after he was arrested while covering a protest, despite judge granting him bond and family trying to pay it: "Moved from jail to jail to jail to jail to jail"
apnews.com/article/jour...
apnews.com/article/jour...
Spanish-language journalist remains in ICE custody despite being granted bond
A Spanish-language journalist remains in federal custody despite being granted bond by an immigration judge last week.
apnews.com
September 12, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Journalist Mario Guevara has now been detained for almost 100 days after he was arrested while covering a protest, despite judge granting him bond and family trying to pay it: "Moved from jail to jail to jail to jail to jail"
apnews.com/article/jour...
apnews.com/article/jour...
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
My first article as part of The Times' Local Investigations Fellowship:
In New York, Some Police Officers Can Drink, Drive and Avoid Charges
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/u...
In New York, Some Police Officers Can Drink, Drive and Avoid Charges
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/u...
In New York, Some Police Officers Can Drink, Drive and Avoid Charges
www.nytimes.com
September 9, 2025 at 12:14 PM
My first article as part of The Times' Local Investigations Fellowship:
In New York, Some Police Officers Can Drink, Drive and Avoid Charges
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/u...
In New York, Some Police Officers Can Drink, Drive and Avoid Charges
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/u...
Reposted by Sam Stecklow
"The city of Chicago on Thursday announced a roughly $90 million “global settlement” to resolve 176 lawsuits tied to disgraced former Chicago police Sgt. Ronald Watts, who ran a corrupt public housing unit and went to federal prison for shaking down an FBI informant."
City Hall settling 176 lawsuits tied to corrupt Chicago police Sgt. Ronald Watts for $90 million
Lawsuits targeting Watts, who ran a corrupt public housing unit and was sent to federal prison for shaking down an FBI informant, have long placed a financial strain on the city.
chicago.suntimes.com
September 11, 2025 at 4:57 PM
"The city of Chicago on Thursday announced a roughly $90 million “global settlement” to resolve 176 lawsuits tied to disgraced former Chicago police Sgt. Ronald Watts, who ran a corrupt public housing unit and went to federal prison for shaking down an FBI informant."