We need competent responders every hour of the day, every day of the week. But we often don’t have them.
Two states are leading the way in training and accountability guidance and policies aiming to prevent tragedy and trauma. Arrest should be viewed as the least desirable outcome.
The state Supreme Court ruled that a person’s race should be taken into consideration when determining the legality of police seizures. The Court also changed the rules for excluding a potential juror based on race.
As natural disasters grow more severe across the country, local governments are increasingly using predictive analytics to understand where and when an emergency will impact their communities.
The city approved $1.2 billion in bond money for street repairs, affordable housing developments, a new police station and other projects. But some officials wonder if increasing inflation will force the city to revise its plans.
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered municipalities to review and reform their police procedures. Today, Syracuse police have made positive steps, but officials say they still have a long way to go.
The city’s Community Police Commission recommended this week that the city have a policy and community discussion prior to using any kind of surveillance equipment to prevent invading residents’ civil rights.
The state has been under total Democratic control for four years, but a tumultuous two years with law enforcement, workforce development and the pandemic has some predicting that Republicans could regain control in November.
City councilors and members of the public have expressed concern that the purchase of a drone could negatively impact the homeless population. The city manager holds the purchasing power over the police drone.
Four cities in the region have proposed using millions of pandemic relief funds for surveillance cameras to aid law enforcement and increase public safety. But there are concerns about the privacy risks.
AI can map fire perimeters in minutes, rather than hours, and can predict a wildfire’s speed and direction. But emphasis on preventative instead of reactive efforts would be more impactful, say fire experts.
The Louisiana city’s police department wants to deploy nine license plate readers to help identify stolen cars and drivers with outstanding warrants. But critics worry about the tech’s infringement on privacy rights.
Failing to invest in the emergency response communication workforce and infrastructure is taking a toll. One important way to bolster call center employee morale and retention is to reclassify these professionals as first responders.
New Jersey became the 14th state to legalize recreational marijuana use on Thursday, though public smoking is still banned. Now local police, who will provide security for the dispensaries, must adjust for the new law.
Earlier this month, the California city launched its Mobile Assistance Community Responders program, which sends trained civilians to respond to emergency mental health crises, allowing police to focus on violent crime response.
Jocelyn Benson’s office retracted its previous statement about no longer releasing driving records of “victims of violence,” like that of Patrick Lyoya, to the media after the policy sparked transparency concerns.
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