-
Don’t let apparatus ‘tail whip’ catch you by surprise
Frank R. Myers Law Enforcement, Defense & Security"Tail whip" refers to the area of the truck extending backwards from the rear or rearmost wheels to the end of the tailboard. Different types of apparatus, especially ladder or aerial devices, can have several feet of body extended rearward. This dimension needs to be kept in consideration for several reasons. Can it make a turn getting out of the station without damaging the building? Is there enough room on the street in front of the station to turn without disrupting traffic or pedestrian sidewalks? Can we access all areas in our first alarm territory? Do we need to train the drivers to become familiar with the new dimensions if different from their previous truck?
-
Police add patrols to LGBT events, neighborhoods after Orlando attack
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityThe shocking mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, has had the nation's police going on high alert everywhere, especially around LGBT events. The attack at a popular gay dance club is being called the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, with 50 people dead and 53 more injured.
-
Will CHIME’s new best practice office improve cybersecurity?
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationDoes it matter that the College of Healthcare Information Executives (CHIME) is trying to combat cybersecurity threats? Is it really the organization that should be tackling this issue? Apparently, its leadership thinks so. Late last month, the organization released a statement announcing the creation of the CHIME Cybersecurity Center and Program Office. The center aims to lead efforts to improve information sharing, develop and spread best practices and "encourage greater collaboration across the industry and with federal agencies."
-
Massachusetts learns perils of driving while high
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityIf a police officer can smell burning marijuana or can see a driver holding a lit marijuana joint, that's too bad in Massachusetts. According to a ruling from the state's Supreme Judicial Court last fall, neither of those instances gives police the right to pull over the vehicle.
-
Should you add monitoring devices to your company vehicles?
D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementHighway accidents remain the leading cause of work-related deaths and also carry tremendous personal, social and economic costs. The good news is new technologies in on-board safety monitoring systems are being developed and implemented in both commercial fleets and private vehicles to offer the potential to further improve safety.
-
Special focus on homegrown terrorists
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityIt was yet another shocking revelation last month when an outgoing and seemingly happy Iowa high school student revealed his obsession with extremist beliefs and radical thinking. For a sports aficionado and a popular student who loves music, this was unexpected. He was an all-American boy who had it all, only to give it up for a tenet that taught him to make violent threats against the society and nation in which he lived.
-
What’s next for TSA after security head’s ouster?
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveHeadaches from long lines and staffing problems at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have led to the replacement of its head of security as it urgently seeks a solution to the issues and criticisms faced over recent weeks. The decision was recently made to replace Kelly Hoggan, not because of any wrongdoing, it was claimed, but because a "different approach" was needed in order to get the organization back on track and deal with mounting pressure from the public and airlines.
-
Truck steering and air brakes: Making them work in harmony
Frank R. Myers Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityOne of the toughest adjustments for new apparatus drivers is knowing proper large vehicle operation techniques. Compared to normal passenger vehicles, truck tires are bigger, steering wheels are larger, and air brakes operate and feel completely different.
-
Report: Health data breaches are surging with no end in sight
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationAttacks on our health data continue — that's no secret — but where these breaches come from is still a matter of question. Whether they come from within or without, the number of these breaches remains consistently high.
-
Chicago shows need for proactive police oversight agency
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityChicago is in news again, and this time for its police oversight agency. For a city that has come into the harsh spotlight due to rising crime rates, slow investigations and a lack of disciplinary action can be damaging. Yet the City of Chicago's Independent Police Review Authority has been doing just that, much to the dismay of the city and its people. Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently announced plans to disband the agency that was formed to investigate police shootings and misconduct but has failed to carry out its tasks.
All Law Enforcement, Defense & Security Articles