New York City is headed for a record-low number of murders in 2009, according to the New York Times for December 28. As of December 27, 461 murders had been committed, nearing the current lowest record of 496 in 2007.

The FBI’s preliminary crime statistics for the first half of 2009 show the crime rate falling all across the nation despite high unemployment and a deep recession. Even murder and manslaughter dropped 10 percent during this time.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has found that during the last several years the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has improperly collected intelligence on American citizens and lawful U.S. residents on multiple occasions.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has placed five employees on administrative leave pending the results of the agency’s investigation of how a confidential passenger-screening manual was posted online without proper redaction of classified information.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano stated on December 9 that her department is investigating how a version of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) passenger-screening manual was posted online.

FBI Director Robert Mueller on December 8 ordered an independent review of the agency’s handling of information pertaining to the military psychiatrist charged in the Fort Hood shooting. One particularly significant point for investigation is the shooter’s e-mail communication with an anti-American cleric in Yemen.

Al Qaeda agents pose a threat to the United States and to U.S. interests abroad, and some are already here on American soil with the intent to attack various targets, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said on December 2.

On the morning of November 29, Maurice Clemmons entered the Cafe Forza coffee house in Spanaway, Washington, pulled out a handgun, and opened fire at four Lakewood Police officers who were sitting together in the shop. All four officers were killed.

Congress is calling for a hearing on the November 24 incident involving a married couple crashing a White House State Dinner being hosted by President Barack Obama for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Major Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, on November 5 went on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood in Texas. The ensuing gunfire left 13 dead and 30 injured. Hasan himself was shot four times by law enforcement personnel. He survived and is currently under military guard in a hospital.