First Responders
A report by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund finds that law enforcement officers face a higher risk of death and injury traveling to the scene of an incident than at the actual scene itself.
The report revealed that vehicle-related collisions are one of the leading causes of... Read More »
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program remains open for applications until March 13 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) is a strong proponent of the program and urges constituents to take advantage of it.
“Our fire... Read More »
A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would give National Guard and Reserve members equal hazard duty incentive pay (HDIP).
The bill was sponsored by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). Similar legislation has already been introduced in the House.
“The... Read More »
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) is bringing enhancements to the FirstNet network in New Hampshire ahead of schedule.
AT&T and Gov. Chris Sununu recently hosted an event to celebrate.
FirstNet is a nationwide, wireless communications platform for first responders... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently selected four new industry partners to participate in a new wildfire sensors workstream of the Smart Cities Internet of Things Innovation (SCITI) Labs.
SCITI Labs will work with the Federal Emergency... Read More »
The Pennsylvania State Senate approved two bills this week that would provide financial benefits for fire and emergency management services (EMS) workers.
The bills focus on easing the financial pressures faced by fire and EMS companies due to the increasing costs of equipment and training.... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the Senate would ensure body armor and personal protective equipment (PPE) is properly-fitted and readily available for female service members.
Access to smaller sized PPE and female-specific PPE is severely limited and issued to only some women who... Read More »
California lawmakers recently joined public safety dispatchers from across the state in celebrating a bill classifying those in the vocation as first responders.
California State Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) said Assembly Bill 1945 (AB 1945) recognizes the work of public safety... Read More »
The City of Port St. Lucie, Fla., received a $1 million federal grant to install fiber optic cables to improve emergency communication systems.
The grant came through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The city will use the money to install more... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) introduced a bill to provide veteran firefighters with improved compensation and benefits.
The Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act would protect veteran firefighters who become disabled by serious diseases—including heart disease, lung... Read More »
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is cheering a win in the form of the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) recently passed into law, for the tax benefits it will provide to volunteer firefighters all year.
VRIPA exempts all nominal incentives for volunteer... Read More »
With drones becoming more incorporated into modern life, the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) is getting in on the action and has created a working group to create a template governing law enforcement use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) nationwide.
The need for such a template has... Read More »
City of Annapolis, Md., personnel recently espoused the benefits of FirstNet, the public safety broadband network designed to enhance public safety communications as a means of protecting residents and visitors.
The Annapolis Police Department (APD), Public Works, the Office of Emergency... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) hosted a Law Enforcement Roundtable in her district at the Milton Community Center to discuss several pressing issues facing police officers.
Among the issues, law enforcement officials spoke about the importance of mental health resources for police departments.... Read More »
A bipartisan group of U.S. House members, in the wake of this week’s U.S. killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani and recent domestic acts of anti-Semitic violence, called on the Trump administration to restore millions of dollars in homeland security grants aimed at aiding state and local... Read More »
Provisions from the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) were included in the final appropriations agreement, which passed in the House this week.
The Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act would allow communities to provide volunteer firefighters and EMS workers with up to... Read More »
The Senate Commerce Committee recently advanced legislation with a provision to preserve first responders’ access to T-band spectrum, which is used by police and firefighters for emergency public safety communication.
The provision, included in the 5G Spectrum Act, repeals a 2012 requirement... Read More »
The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), and the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department recently received new S-70i FIREHAWK helicopters built by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, and United Rotorcraft, a division of Air... Read More »
The First Responder Network Authority Board recently held its year-end meeting and highlighted FirstNet’s progress and its priorities for the future.
FirstNet is a nationwide public safety broadband network with more than 1 million connections by more than 10,000 public safety... Read More »
A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation last week designed to provide volunteer firefighters and first responders with affordable housing opportunities.
Sens. Pat Roberts (R-KS), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said the... Read More »
The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) awarded about $376 million in grants to reinforce public safety efforts across the United States.
“Crime and violence hold families, friends, and neighborhoods hostage. They also rip those communities apart,” Principal Deputy... Read More »
A new report by the RAND Corp. found that police crime centers that use technology, like remote cameras and analytic tools, may be able to reduce crime.
RAND researchers found significant reductions in some types of crimes in Chicago, including robberies and burglaries, using these tools and... Read More »
Provost Marshal Office (PMO) Marines recently conducted an active shooter training initiative at Camp Foster as a means of ensuring readiness and reliability in the event of such a scenario unfolding.
“The training we do ensures that we do not become complacent,” Cpl. Jonathan Cosgrove, a... Read More »
A partnership between the emergency management directors of 14 counties, the Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and citizenAID will provide nearly 1,000 Public Safety Drop Kits to first responders throughout Central Ohio.
The kits, made by Columbus-based citizenAID,... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) will host an event for people interested in learning about funding opportunities in the detection canine field.
The event, which is focused on advancing detection canine research and development, is part of a... Read More »
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) officials are touting the benefits of its Marine Law Enforcement Training Program (MLETP), providing water safety courses to mentally prepare officers for field survival.
“It is about keeping your wits about you…and surviving a situation... Read More »
The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research Division recently announced the winners of its Haptic Interfaces for Public Safety Challenge.
Haptic interfaces produce sensory cues in equipment or devices. For example, vibrations in... Read More »
During a live active shooter exercise at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) evaluated a suite of in-building sensors.
The exercise demonstrated how smart building technologies could inform daily operations and improve public safety and... Read More »
Cases of Rift Valley fever in Sudan have now reached 293 people, according to data gathered by the Program for Monitoring Emergency Diseases (ProMED) between Sept. 19, 2019, and Nov. 11, 2019.
The cases, which have led to 11 associated deaths, were reported in six states: the Red Sea, River... Read More »
Legislation introduced by a pair of lawmakers designed to examine and address health concerns regarding firefighters’ occupational exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has advanced in the Senate.
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) said the Guaranteeing... Read More »
A group of public safety organizations recently agreed to work together to enhance global emergency communications systems that serve nearly 1 billion people.
Under the agreement, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, Canada (APCO Canada), the European Emergency Number... Read More »
Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced Wednesday a bill to protect firefighters from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams.
The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act of 2019 has... Read More »
A group of Democratic U.S. Senators introduced a bill that would preserve access to T-band spectrum for emergency personnel.
The bill – called Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act -- repeals a provision of the 2012 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, which directed the Federal... Read More »
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced last week that he helped secure important victories for the state that bolster public safety while also enhancing Ohio law enforcement under a recently approved Senate appropriations package.
“One of the most important roles of government is keeping... Read More »
Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced last week over $11 million in federal funding would aid efforts to bolster firefighting efforts in Chicagoland communities.
The $11,194,763.84 funding allotment is being provided through the Department of Homeland Security, Federal... Read More »
