Overview
- Judge James Bredar terminated three sections Thursday after finding sustained compliance, covering First Amendment activity, coordination with city school police, and the Community Oversight Task Force.
- The city reported that more than 83% of the decree is now in compliance or on track, reflecting broader progress verified by the court and monitors.
- Bredar said the case could close in about two years, with the department moving into full sustainment in roughly 18 months if gains hold.
- The judge identified a disciplinary-hearing backlog involving 768 officers and 625 cases as a major roadblock, calling the figures outlandish.
- To cut that backlog, BPD said it hired an attorney and completed 14 hearings in April with 11 set for May, while separate recruitment gains included nearly 1,000 applicants in early 2026 and a projected net staffing increase this year.