Sam Stecklow

Sam Stecklow is a journalist with the Invisible Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit public accountability journalism organization, where he works on the organization’s Civic Police Data Project and its investigations. He was also a member of the award-winning team behind the “Shots Fired” project between the Salt Lake Tribune and PBS Frontline.

This photo shows a close-up of Louisiana State Police's SWAT Team.

Despite Reforms, Louisiana Still Keeps Some Police Data Secret

Lawmakers tried and failed to track “wandering officers.” But state regulators also refuse to release data that would help journalists and the public do so.

Sam Stecklow

Apr 08, 2024

Illinois City Hired Police Chief Despite Misconduct Allegations

In 2022, Timothy Tyler was chosen to lead the Champaign Police Department — despite a string of misconduct allegations from his first policing job in the south Chicago suburb of Markham through his time at the Illinois State Police.

Farrah Anderson, Sam Stecklow

Jan 29, 2024

One of Utah’s Best-Known Police Chiefs Has Spent Decades Defending Police Misconduct

Chief Ken Wallentine has repeatedly defended police behavior that judges later found violated the constitution or resulted in millions of dollars in settlements and judgments.

Sam Stecklow

Dec 15, 2023