-
Tips for developing an active shooter response program
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & Grounds"Active shooter on premises" are words that instill terror. However, these incidents seem to permeate the American psyche. Even with seemingly endless reports of these attacks on organizations, many leaders do not organize a plan for how to respond should they be faced with such an event. The most likely reason for this is fear. Even preparing to mitigate against such an event is scary. Unfortunately, active shootings are a reality that organizational leaders and facility managers must prepare for. Individuals must be prepared to manage such an event before law enforcement personnel arrive on the scene.
-
The thrills and spills of e-scooters create a safety debate
Ryan Clark Transportation Technology & AutomotiveMy co-worker and I stood staring transfixed at the Bird e-scooter. It had been decided that if I were to write about the safety of these things, I’d have to at least ride one. I wanted to do it, but I didn’t want to do it. Images of my broken and balled up body weighed heavy on my mind. I remember asking, "Are these things even safe?" And as if answered by the universe, a young woman, wearing sun shades and earbuds — stone deaf and blind to the world — floated down the street in front of us on an e-scooter. Travelling at the speed of “whatever dude” she coasted by at 10 mph, in the middle of the street, with a caravan of irritated drivers honking their horns behind her.
-
5 simple steps to keep church policies and procedures current
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityTackling policies and procedures aren't exactly tasks people are excited to handle. However, having documented and up-to-date policies and procedures can save a church time, money, and even legal issues. What happens way too often is a committee approves a set of policies, then those documents are filed away somewhere never to be seen again. Instead of letting these documents become dust collectors, it’s best to allocate time throughout the year to review and update each one. Here’s how to get started.
-
Do ‘zero-tolerance’ policies in education really work?
Patrick Gleeson EducationIn principle, zero-tolerance policies in U.S. schools are obvious and almost indisputable. Some kinds of student behavior cannot be tolerated and must result in disciplinary responses that include expulsion. Students can't bring guns to school, for example; can’t attack teachers, or sell drugs on campus. In practice, however zero-tolerance policies have become fraught and widely disputed. Here's an overview of zero-tolerance policies in U.S. schools along with a sampling of opinion about their usefulness.
-
Dentists invited to donate services to veterans
Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental HealthcareThere is more than one way to serve your country. If you’re a dental professional, you have the opportunity to use your unique skills and training to serve those who served our country. In honor of the Memorial Day holiday, an organization called Dental Lifeline Network announced on May 14 that it is launching a volunteer recruitment campaign encouraging dentists to provide dental care to veterans, specifically those with special needs.
-
Mefloquine: A personal perspective
Roy Phillips Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityIf you’ve deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, especially in the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, you were probably prescribed mefloquine. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the drug, it is an anti-malarial with some odd and obvious side effects. The drug, a white pill, was to be ingested every Monday morning for the duration of the deployment, followed by a two-week-long daily dose of primaquine. Earlier this year, the VA established a committee to study the long-term effects of mefloquine toxicity.
-
New York-area pipeline halted, Keystone XL persists
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalPipelines have become one of the biggest issues in U.S. environmental politics since the 2016 Standing Rock protests against Energy Transfer's Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). The main issues opponents raise are groundwater contamination and spills. These concerns can be found across the country, as pipeline opponents in the Northeast recently defeated a 37-mile, $1 billion natural gas project, the Williams Companies’ proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Pipeline. Intended to connect natural gas fields from Pennsylvania through New Jersey to New York, the pipeline application has been rejected on a technicality, citing potential copper and mercury contamination in water.
-
Security cameras in classrooms: The debate continues
Brian Stack EducationMy suburban New Hampshire high school, home to some 800 students and staff, is not unlike many a high school from coast to coast that has received a variety of security upgrades, including the expansion of our video surveillance network. What once was a limited system with just 10 cameras pointed in the most high-traffic parts of the campus is now a system approaching 100 individual cameras that record and save footage for nearly two months. As expansive as our security camera network is, we have drawn a line in the sand in terms of what footage we record.
-
Will the safety of houses of worship become a new focus for law enforcement?
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityIf the past years have seen an increase in mass shootings, the past few months have featured a slew of extremist attacks on houses of worship. One of the latest horrifying attacks was on a congregation of worshippers at a synagogue in California. Houses of worship have always been synonymous with places of refuge. But these attacks have turned them from sanctuaries in the truest sense of the word to being targets of hate. Some people are now concerned and fearful when worshipping.
-
US tariffs on Chinese imports grow
Seth Sandronsky Civil & GovernmentThe cost of trade between China and the U.S. is rising. Tariffs, or taxes, on $200 billion of Chinese imports to the U.S. rose from 10% to 25% one minute after midnight on May 10. "The tariff increase inflicts significant harm on U.S. industry, farmers and consumers," Douglas K. Barry, director of communications and publications for the U.S.-China Business Council told MultiBriefs in an email. "American agricultural exports to China are particularly impacted. According to our recent survey, some states' exports were down 50%. The entire American agricultural sector is feeling the stress."
All Law Enforcement, Defense & Security Articles