First Responders
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 »
An improved procurement process of land mobile radios (LMRs) could enhance interoperability and cut overall costs, according to a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
LMRs are generally used by federal agencies in public safety incidents, firefighting and emergency... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Community Counterterrorism Preparedness Act, H.R. 5859, on Thursday, to provide assistance to first responders in communities across the country.
The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and passed with bipartisan support, authorizes... Read More »
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) directed the New York State Police and the National Guard to deploy an additional 1,000 officers across the state on Sunday after an explosion in Chelsea.
In addition to the increased deployment of officers, Cuomo directed the Division of Homeland Security and... Read More »
More than 100 first responders gathered in New York this week for the state’s largest emergency response training exercise featuring realistic scenarios inspired by terrorist threats in the United States and abroad and utilizing the newest communications technology for law enforcement.
The... Read More »
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) awarded funds on Thursday to eight agencies for its Band 14 Incumbent Spectrum Relocation Grant program.
The program aims to provide financial assistance to eligible public safety agencies for relocating their current radios and systems from Band... Read More »
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) announced a partnership on Tuesday with Esri to geo-enable the association’s programs and applications in order to support the growing demands of first responders around the world.
Esri specializes in geographic information system (GIS)... Read More »
Ceragon Networks recently released a new wireless backhaul platform with enhanced security features that seeks to overcome what can at times be a major obstacle for public safety forces - access to a reliable and secure communications network.
Ceragon’s FibeAir IP-20 Assured Platform is geared... Read More »
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) exercised a contract option with Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., on Tuesday valued at $11.6 million over a 12-month period for the supply of vaccinia immune globulin (VIGIV) to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).
The U.S. Food and... Read More »
A disaster strikes a congested city, cell phone networks are overwhelmed and internet access is spotty. Nearly everyone has a mobile device in their pocket, but few can use them to communicate.
San Francisco-based start-up OpenGarden, Inc., has a solution to this type of crisis with its FireChat... Read More »
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) will hold its inaugural forum in the Southwest border region in August to engage with federal and regional public safety stakeholders about the communications challenges they face ahead of the deployment of a nationwide public safety broadband... Read More »
The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) produced its first biosafety curriculum for police colleges to advance law enforcement capability and preparedness in responding to biological incidents on Tuesday.
The initiative was developed under Project Rhino and seeks to address... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) recently applauded a proposed rule announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that would require railroads to provide more notification about shipments of crude oil and other flammable liquids.
Wyden introduced the Hazardous Materials Rail Transportation... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced legislation on Wednesday to assist communities in preparing for and responding to active shooter events.
The bill, the Active Shooter Preparedness Enhancement Act of 2016, would ensure that the Department of Homeland Security... Read More »
The Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) recently announced that is has developed a decontamination spray that enables soldiers at the unit level to decontaminate vehicle surfaces in the field immediately after exposure to a chemical warfare agent and continue with their mission.
The... Read More »
A coalition of Rhode Island lawmakers said on Friday that the state would receive more than $8 million in federal funds to assist first responders in response to a range of security challenges and crises.
The coalition included U.S. Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), along... Read More »
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) moved forward on Friday with its preparations for a public-private partnership to deploy and operate a nationwide public safety broadband network.
During their meeting in Chicago, the FirstNet board of directors provided strategic guidance for... Read More »
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet held a hearing on Tuesday to examine the progress of FirstNet, the first nationwide, high-speed network dedicated to public safety.
Chairman of the Subcommittee... Read More »
