First Responders
The State of New York recently received more than $5 million in federal Homeland Security grant funding for local governments across the state to enhance counterterrorism initiatives and strengthen public safety-related projects.
The funding was announced by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, U.S.... Read More »
Glagio do Brasil, a Brazilian manufacturer of protective equipment for several branches of Brazil’s law enforcement and military, recently chose Honeywell’s Gold Shield ballistic composite materials for use in ballistic protective vests for the country’s second-largest police force in Minas... Read More »
A representative of emergency first responders called on Congress Tuesday to extend an exemption from President Donald Trump’s Executive Order on sanctuary cities so that firefighters and other critical emergency service providers in those jurisdictions can continue accepting federal... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY), chairman of the House Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee, recently won House approval of counterterrorism legislation that improves the capabilities of first responders and strengthens homeland security.
“My plan is to try to utilize... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation make sure that first responders can acquire new equipment and innovative technologies needed to respond to evolving threats.
The First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act of 2017, authored by Rep. Donald Payne, Jr.... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously advanced the Medical Preparedness Allowable Act, which aims to secure reliable grant funding for the stockpiling of medical kits and equipment for first responders.
The bill, authored by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), would make funding available for... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) recently introduced legislation to make it easier for first responders to acquire new equipment and technologies they need to respond to potential threats.
The First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act of 2017 would require the Federal Emergency... Read More »
After the implementation of New Hampshire House Bill 1298 earlier this month, U.S. Border Patrol officers stationed in Coos County now have state police authority after a training period.
The bill now gives Border Patrol agents the authority to provide immediate assistance to a person who has... Read More »
The federally backed Broadband Opportunity Program recently awarded a $33 million grant to allow the state of Mississippi to build infrastructure to enhance communication and coordination among first responder emergency providers.
“The goal is to increase the care provided to patients, and to... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents last week seized more than $2 million worth of illicit narcotics over separate incidents.
The first incident occurred on Jan. 18 as officers stationed at the Port of Hidalgo, Texas, encountered a white 2012 Ford Mustang driven by a 27-year-old U.S.... Read More »
U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) called on President Donald Trump to prioritize law enforcement safety, specifically advocating for a reversal of former President Barack Obama’s decision to restrict access to the 1033 Program, which provided surplus military equipment to state and local law... Read More »
As President Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provided assistance in securing for the inauguration, along with the inaugural parade.
The inauguration was notable... Read More »
States across the nation are making preparations ahead of the development of a new Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network.
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) in the coming months will select a private vendor to develop and deploy a national network dedicated to first responders... Read More »
As FirstNet nears an award of a sizable contract to a private vendor to deploy a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network, some states including New Hampshire, Colorado, Alabama and Arizona have explored alternative statewide networks to strengthen emergency communications.
“Interoperability... Read More »
The U.S.-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation recently issued a call for proposals of next-generation first responder technologies to promote joint development ventures for first responder training and development.
"The BIRD Foundation is happy to accelerate... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed at the Port of Nogales in Arizona arrested a 21-year-old man from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico on Jan. 9 for attempting to smuggle a large weapons cache into Mexico through the port.
During routine outbound operations, officers selected the... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently opened a new general aviation processing facility for the PAZOS Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
CBP said the new general aviation facility (GAF) was built in compliance with... Read More »
In order to stay one step ahead of potential emergencies, the Houston Airport System has begun utilizing a new 40-foot mobile incident command vehicle equipped with cutting-edge technology to improve public safety.
The three airports in the Houston area form one of the largest airport systems in... Read More »
Safariland, a company specializing in body armor, recently selected Honeywell’s Spectra Shield and Gold Shield ballistic composite materials to produce a thin, lightweight vest specifically designed for female law enforcement officers.
Safariland selected Honeywell’s Spectra Shield 5000... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced legislation this week that will seek to protect the pensions of first responders who have been injured on the job.
“We count on federal law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other public safety employees when tragedy... Read More »
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently named Marlon Miller as the new special agent in charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office for three states.
Miller’s office will be based in Philadelphia and will have jurisdiction over operations in the states of... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Tom Udall (D-NM) celebrated this week the passage of bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), ensuring that first responders and law enforcement personnel are adequately trained for various nation... Read More »
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) released this week an outline for a public-private partnership to deploy the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (Network), with provisions to ensure progress on key network components within the first 100 days of the new partnership.
The... Read More »
The reauthorization of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) Reform and Improvement Act of 2015 recently passed both houses of Congress and has been sent to the President’s desk for signature. The reauthorization bill ensures that federal law enforcement officials and first... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) on Friday announced the selection of Rick Bright for the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
“BARDA succeeds through... Read More »
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) marked the opening of a new test lab this week that will specialize in testing public safety features, devices and apps before network deployment.
The FirstNet Innovation and Test Lab, operating at FirstNet’s technical headquarters in... Read More »
A lack of biometric data sharing regarding terrorist groups at the international level creates a security gap that could be exploited by returning foreign fighters, Interpol said on Wednesday.
The Interpol General Assembly has said the threat needs to be addressed quickly, especially given that... Read More »
U.S Border Patrol agents at the Falfurrias Checkpoint in Texas rescued several undocumented immigrants last weekend as smugglers attempted to bring them into the United States illegally.
Agents managing inspections at the checkpoint referred several drivers over to a secondary inspection station... Read More »
More than 100 first responders in Chattanooga, Tennessee will board Norfolk Southern Corp.’s safety train this week, a state-of-the-art mobile classroom that prepares emergency workers to respond to potential rail incidents involving the shipment of hazardous materials.
The train is visiting... Read More »
International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) Secretary Jürgen Stock recently warned that greater coordination is needed for the global community to respond to the threat of foreign terrorist fighters.sWhile speaking at a G6 interior ministers meeting in Rome, Stock said the ongoing... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently launched the MD5 National Security Technology Accelerator to create solutions for humanitarian issues and natural disaster relief challenges.
The MD5 program was launched by a public-private partnership between the DoD, New York University, Columbia... Read More »
Honeywell released plans on Thursday for a next-generation wireless, transportable GPS-enabled multi-threat monitor called the AreaRAE Pro.
The AreaRAE Pro collects information based on meteorological conditions and simultaneously detects a wide-range of threats, including toxic and combustible... Read More »
U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) recently hosted the first-ever Emergency Management Summit to help first responders in his district prepare for natural disasters that require federal assistance.
The summit featured testimony and potential response plans from local emergency managers, country... Read More »
Creative Santa Fe (CrSF), the Nuclear Threat Initiative and N Square recently released plans for a new conference to discuss nuclear security and proliferation, called the Santa Fe Nuclear Weapons Summit.
Former covert CIA operations officer Valerie Plame, actor Farshad Farat, data scientist... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) recently said that continuing to improve interoperability among first responders and ensuring that they have access to the best equipment and technology are his top goals.
Payne, who serves as the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on... Read More »
