-
Will Trump’s plan slow down the opioid epidemic?
Dr. Abimbola Farinde Mental HealthcareThe opioid epidemic has been a longstanding and increasingly recognizable public health issue in the United States. In an additional effort to combat this escalating issue, President Donald Trump on Tuesday rolled out his plan for tackling what he calls "the crisis next door."
-
Pros and cons of a driver always staying with the truck
Frank R. Myers Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityDepending on the manning for your department and/or your area of response, is it a good idea to have the driver always remain with the truck? Whether it is a routine movement, medical call, or staging area, there are pros and cons. Let’s look at the different aspects to see what you feel works best for your department, and to possibly adopt it as a policy or Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
-
Marijuana legalization may be linked to greater pedestrian fatality rates
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Civil & GovernmentTaking a walk may have deadly consequences, and the risk appears to be greater in those states that have legal adult use of recreational marijuana. The rate of fatal injury to pedestrians has grown faster than any other vehicle-related deaths for the years of rapid legalization of marijuana. That rate increased 27 percent between 2007 and 2016, while other types of traffic deaths had decreased by 14 percent. While a direct relationship to marijuana use cannot be determined, other sources indicate that the use of marijuana is likely a factor when the driver of a vehicle is using cannabis.
-
Advancements in forensic science to aid in fighting crime
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityThe Department of Justice recently announced new policies on forensic science, including guidance on how to implement better quality assurance measures. Advanced practice and technology will improve coordination and collaboration between the various local, state and federal departments.
-
What you do off-duty is just as important as what you do on-duty
Frank R. Myers Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityOne day my wife started getting rid of some old T-shirts of mine (without me knowing) to give away to a local charity that resold used clothes. Many were fire department shirts that I had won from T-shirt bets during football season or other fire department shirts I had traded with our department shirts.
-
Nuclear standoff with North Korea prompts interest in new weapons
Bill Becken Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityWith rogue nations such as North Korea developing intercontinental ballistic missiles systems (ICBMs) able to reach North America, the U.S. government is showing new interest in using high-powered radio frequency microwave weapons (HPMs) to disable them.
-
Law enforcement supports variety of gun control reform efforts
Michelle R. Matisons Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityIn response to the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, President Donald Trump has announced his support for a series of gun control efforts, including a ban on bump stocks, raising the legal age of owning a gun to 21 and an expanded background check system. This announcement accompanies calls by the law enforcement community to reduce gun violence, and there are many ideas on the table as we move forward.
-
New school security measures include bulletproof backpacks
Michelle R. Matisons EducationIn the wake of the Valentine's Day massacre that killed 17 students and staff at Parkland, Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, some say the public is growing numb to school shootings. But some parents are taking bold steps to ensure the safety of their children, including the purchase of bulletproof backpacks.
-
New developments in police technology
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityFairborn, Ohio, recently became the first city to test Air Force Research Lab-developed technology for police and firefighting services. This new technology aims to separate radio chatter from the greater noise and aims to help first responders monitor and manage emergency situations better.
-
How the VA creates barriers to organ transplantation
Chelsea Adams Medical & Allied HealthcareThe Department of Veterans Affairs has been accused of making it difficult for veterans to access organ transplants. A recent report by the Office of the Special Counsel alleges that expecting veterans to travel to distant medical centers to access transplants "did not appear reasonable."
All Law Enforcement, Defense & Security Articles