First Responders
Congressmen introduce legislation to protect federal judges, law enforcement
U.S. Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jared Golden (R-ME) introduced legislation that would offer protection for federal judges, law enforcement and public safety officers. The Back the Blue Act would create new criminal provisions regarding the killing of, or the attempt to kill, or conspiring to... Read More »
New York law enforcement participate in seventh annual Tactical Week
Six law enforcement teams from across New York participated in the seventh annual Tactical Week exercise held June 2 to June 5 at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany. Teams competed against each other as they responded to a series of complex and evolving incidents, and were judged... Read More »
Organizations urge the modernization of 9-1-1 systems
A coalition representing state and local government leaders, industry professionals, and tens of thousands of 9-1-1 first responders recently sent a letter to members of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, urging federal investment in Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) technology. “Current 9-1-1... Read More »
FEMA to make available $396M for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will make $360 million in funding available through the Fiscal Year 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. The program funds fire prevention programs and supports firefighter health and safety research and... Read More »
Legislation would reauthorize the Community Oriented Policing Services program
Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would reauthorize the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program and double federal funding. The More Funding for COPS Act would formally reauthorize the program that hasn’t been reauthorized since... Read More »
DHS technology partner launching first responder solution
New Jersey-based MaXentric Technologies LLC, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) technology to industry partner, will make commercially available a first responder solution to law enforcement agencies nationwide. The radar-based Detect Presence of... Read More »
Legislation would improve police preparedness
Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would improve officer readiness, enhance public trust, and make communities safer. Smaller or under-resourced jurisdictions often lack the ability to offer advanced training on their own. The Law Enforcement... Read More »
Bill introduced to eliminate unfair overtime limits on police
Legislation that would guarantee federal law enforcement officers are paid the compensation they have earned was introduced in the House on May 8. The bill, the Law Enforcement Officer Fair Retirement Act, was introduced by U.S. Reps. Nellie Pou (D-NJ), Don Bacon (R-NE), Gerry Connolly (D-VA)... Read More »
State attorneys general urge next National Human Trafficking Hotline operator to cooperate with local law enforcement
A bipartisan coalition of 40 state and territory attorneys general recently sent a letter Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. urging the next operator of the National Human Trafficking Hotline to better cooperate with local law enforcement. Polaris, a... Read More »
U.S. Senate bill aims to help prevent attacks on law enforcement
Bipartisan legislation recently reintroduced in the U.S. Senate would help protect law enforcement from ambush-style attacks. Law enforcement agencies reported more than 79,000 police officers were assaulted in 2023, and 60 were killed. The Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness... Read More »
Legislation to extend concealed carry privileges to law enforcement officers reintroduced
U.S. Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) said their legislation extending concealed carry privileges to law enforcement officers would improve public safety and offer real solutions to terrorism and mass shootings. The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Reform Act (LEOSA) would extend... Read More »
Cobalt Magnet 25 to hold training exercise
The Cobalt Magnet 25, a training, exercise and planning program to ensure preparedness in the event of public health and safety emergencies, is holding a training exercise to prepare against radiological threats, incidents, and accidents at locations throughout southeast Michigan, Ohio, Indiana,... Read More »
Firefighters with service-related cancers supported under federal bill
U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) introduced legislation on Feb. 12 that would expand access to federal support for the families of first responders who suffer from service-related cancers. The bill, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, would make firefighters and other first responders eligible... Read More »
National Emergency Response Information System launches
The National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) launched on Monday. The system is a cloud-based platform that will provide fire and EMS departments and first responders with more accurate and actionable post-incident information. NERIS captures incident data and provides analytic... Read More »
Federal agencies come together to train first responders on lithium-ion battery risks
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) joined other agencies this week to train first responders on the safety risks posed by lithium-ion batteries. In collaboration with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the Fire Department of the city of... Read More »
Commerce secretary appoints members to FirstNet Authority board
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo recently appointed 11 public safety, technology, and business leaders to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) board of directors. FirstNet Authority is an independent entity within the Department of Commerce’s National... Read More »
Tribes receive more than $84M to combat public safety challenges
The U.S. Justice Department recently awarded 90 American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes more than $84 million in Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) grants. The grants help enhance tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses, fund an array of services for crime... Read More »
Rep. D’Esposito questions FEMA storm modeling after Helene
On Saturday, U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), asked FEMA for answers on how it used advanced forecasting and rainfall modeling to prepare for Hurricane Helene. D’Esposito, chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, sent a letter to the FEMA... Read More »
House passes legislation to bolster wildfire tech
On Thursday, the U.S. House passed legislation designed to combat wildfires across the country. The Wildfire Tech Demonstration, Evaluation, Modernization, and Optimization (DEMO) Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) would allow private entities to partner with... Read More »
DHS S&T delivers wildfire sensors to Colorado
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) celebrated National Preparedness Month by announcing the delivery and phased implementation of wildland fire sensors throughout Colorado. S&T said 20 wildfire detection and four wind sensors are... Read More »
DOJ awards $600M in grants to hire more law enforcement officers
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Offices) announced it had awarded more than $600 million in grants to law enforcement agencies across the country. The funding will be used for a variety of efforts, from hiring new law... Read More »
Legislation introduced to recruit, retain firefighters
U.S. Reps. Greg Landsman (D-OH) and Mike Carey (R-OH) announced they had introduced bipartisan legislation to recruit and retain firefighters across the country. The Enhancing SAFER Grants for Local Firefighters Act would enhance existing federal grant programs used by local fire departments,... Read More »
Legislation reauthorizing firefighter assistance signed into law
On Tuesday, legislation to extend federal programs aimed at helping to support local fire departments across the country was signed into law. The Fire Grants and Safety Act, authored by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK),... Read More »
Bipartisan Congressional group calls for passage of wildland firefighter pay fix
On Monday, a bipartisan group called for Congress to swiftly pass legislation to raise the pay for federal wildland firefighters in advance of wildfire season. U.S. Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Jack Bergman (R-MI), met with wildland... Read More »
DHS to make new fire safety technology available for testing
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced it would be making an innovative new fire safety tool available to fire departments across the country for testing. The tool – a helmet-mounted indoor visualization and navigation device... Read More »
Bipartisan Recruit and Retain Act to bolster U.S. police force heads for president’s signature
With its passage through the House last week, the Recruit and Retain Act (S. 546) is headed for President Joe Biden, bringing with it a possible expansion of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant program to back law enforcement recruitment efforts. Originally introduced in the... Read More »
Effort to equip female DHS officers with better tailored body armor advances through Senate committee
A bill from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Katie Britt (R-AL) to get next generation body armor – better suited to its wearers – to the Department of Homeland Security’s(DHS) law enforcement personnel advanced swiftly out of committee last week. The senators introduced the DHS Better... Read More »
Fire Grants and Safety Act proposes new support for firefighter, first responder services
With approval from the House this week, the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S.870) seems set for signature by President Joe Biden, and would bring with it extended authorization for firefighter and first responder support nationwide. Sponsored by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), the bill incorporated... Read More »
New federal report connects emergency responders with non-detonable training aids for explosive detection dogs
In order to properly prepare working canines for explosives detection, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) released a new report to help emergency responders find non-detonable training aids. “The Detection Canine Program at S&T plays a critical... Read More »
Protect and Serve Act would elevate the harming or attempted harm of law enforcement to a federal crime
Following the deaths of four police officers while executing an arrest warrant in North Carolina last week, a group of U.S. senators introduced the Protect and Serve Act (S. 4258) to turn attempts to harm or successfully harming a law enforcement officer into a federal crime. Traditionally, such... Read More »
Sens. Duckworth, Blackburn press for improvements to emergency communication technology
Through introduction of the ITS Codification Act (S. 3781) earlier this month, U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) sought to codify the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) and improve the nation’s emergency communication technology. “It’s critical that... Read More »
FirstNet Authority, AT&T agree to 10-year, $8B investment into public safety broadband network
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and its network partner, AT&T, recently announced the next phase of its public safety broadband network, with 5G upgrades, coverage enhancements and service updates spurred by more than $8 billion of investments. Those investments will... Read More »
Republican bill proposes death penalty or life sentences for killing police officers
Through the Fallen Law Enforcement Act introduced this week, U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and John Cornyn (R-TX) seek to strengthen penalties for attacks on law enforcement across the board. The bill would require death penalties or life imprisonment imposed on anyone... Read More »
Public safety broadband network to expand as FirstNet transitions to full 5G network
After an initial five-year buildout, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board recently voted to invest further into the public safety broadband network, expanding and fully transitioning it to a fully 5G network. “The FirstNet Authority is making a major investment in... Read More »