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An assortment of forgotten equipment and tools for firefighters
Frank R. Myers Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityOne of the tasks assigned to a new firefighter was to learn the inventory on the trucks in the fire station. It was expected of you to at least open the apparatus compartments and get a mental picture of the location of all equipment and tools. This way, when asked to get a particular item from the truck, you would go straight to its location without wasting time aimlessly searching for it. Over the years, I had noticed that some of the more "unique" items slowly began to disappear and/or were eliminated altogether from the inventory. Some of us "old timers" may remember some of these.
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Surveillance technologies key to increasing student safety
Bambi Majumdar EducationData from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that 75 percent of public schools use security cameras to monitor their buildings. With school shootings dominating headlines, it is not a surprise to see a rise in safety measures. As a result, many districts are investing in high-tech digital surveillance systems to keep students and staff safe from harm. These new surveillance technologies will complement teacher and student training programs.
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Texas reconsiders air guns for big-game hunting
John McAdams Recreation & LeisureThough the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission originally approved air guns and air bows as a legal method of take for big game during its previous meeting in March, some members of the commission appear to be having second thoughts regarding that decision. For that reason, the commission plans on readdressing the issue at its next public meeting on May 24 in Lubbock. Current regulations only permit hunters to use air guns and air bows to harvest squirrels and nongame animals like feral hogs.
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Body cams for law enforcement to get a boost from AI
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityArtificial intelligence-powered body cams are almost ready for the men in blue, which will provide an essential upgrade for fighting crime in the 21st century. Axon recently announced it would be embedding artificial intelligence in its wearable body cameras. The company is known for the wearable body cameras and Taser electroshock weapons used by most police departments in the U.S. These body cams will have AI-powered face recognition technology inserted in them, which will allow the police to scan and recognize the faces of almost everyone they see while on patrol.
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Don’t blow up your pistol — segregate your ammo
Eric Lamberson Recreation & LeisureA great many IDPA competitors often have pistols of different calibers, and normally that is no issue unless you fail to segregate your ammunition. I frequently see competitors in local IDPA matches shooting two guns, each one a different caliber. It is not uncommon to see competitors loading and unloading magazines as they switch pistols during a stage. This is one instance where the potential for a problem creeps in, because competitors occasionally mix calibers in this process — at times with disastrous results.
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Beyond a ‘Shadow’ of a doubt
Joshua Fry Recreation & Leisure"The pistol the rest of the world’s police forces use" is the way I most often describe my CZ pistols to those in the U.S. unfamiliar with the CZ 75 platform. For various reasons, the CZ 75 is generally unknown to the average firearms user, and unfortunately, the majority of the U.S. market is missing out on a truly outstanding brand. I fell into that category myself until my exposure to the competition shooting world introduced me to this new and outstanding series of pistols.
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Exploring the Third System forts across the country
Cindy Belt Recreation & LeisureAfter the War of 1812, the United States built a series of forts along the coasts called Third System forts to protect the country from French, British and Spanish attacks. Of the 42 forts built, most saw little action against foreign countries. While brick walls were 11 feet thick in places, these thick walls were no match to the "new technology" of rifled cannons utilized during the Civil War. Many of these forts are now national parks and have museums and tours available.
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New training programs, partnerships aim to combat human trafficking
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityWe have come a long way in enforcing laws and fighting crime. As a society, we are better informed and more aware of our world. Yet, the human trafficking industry is flourishing. No matter how many of these vile criminals are taken down, more offenders spring up elsewhere. However, law enforcement professionals are evolving their practices and looking for more effective ways to combat this crime. Recent partnerships with other agencies and industries play a significant role in the work to fight human trafficking.
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Coping with the working blues
Frank R. Myers Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityIf anyone has served for many years with a fire department, there will be times when a person will have some "lows" based on actions or occurrences at their workplace — sometimes involving co-workers. Knowing how to cope and find ways of getting back on track and becoming more upbeat and enthusiastic about your work will help you become physically, mentally and emotionally stronger.
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The global forensic market is all set to grow
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityLimited budgets and red tape have made the job of fighting crime more difficult. But in the face of more sophisticated criminal attacks, we need more sophisticated forensic tools. There is a need to make industries immune from cyberattacks. It is especially tough since criminal enterprises have adopted new and emerging technologies faster than law enforcement.
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