Justice and Public Safety

FirstNet Board Filled by Public Safety Officials, Telecom Execs

August 20, 2012 - Now that legislation for a nationwide wireless broadband network for public safety use is a reality, a board of directors has been chosen to oversee the project.

Can a Wi-Fi Mesh Connect Emergency Responders?

August 20, 2012 - A network comprised of privately owned network routers could someday be used in the event of a cellular or data network outage.

Public Safety IT Officials Recognized for Excellence

August 20, 2012 - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials announced seven winners, including Radio Frequency Technologist of the Year and Information Technologist of the Year.

Military Surveillance Balloons Head Stateside

August 17, 2012 - U.S. Customs and Border Protection is running a test program in Texas using military aerostats to monitor the border.

Police Chiefs Recognized for UAV Guidelines

August 17, 2012 - The International Association of Chiefs of Police’s guidelines for unmanned aircraft systems are meant to ensure smooth operation as an increasing number of UAVs take to the air.

Facial Recognition Software Increases Efficiency for Sheriff’s Office

August 17, 2012 - Cumberland County, Maine, purchased a new software system that uses photographs of suspects to search a database and identify potential matches.

Manhattan DA Spends $4.2 Million on Cybercrime Unit

August 16, 2012 - An increasing number of crimes involve a computer-based component and the Manhattan district attorney's office is upgrading to meet the demand.

WikiLeaks Exposes TrapWire as a Spy Network

August 13, 2012 - The federal government was preparing to monitor the public using privately owned surveillance cameras, according to documents leaked by WikiLeaks.

Utah Service Stores Residents’ Emergency Contact Info

August 10, 2012 - The service allows Utonians to designate emergency contacts that police can contact in the event of an emergency.

Gun Standard Helps Match Shells to Crimes

August 9, 2012 - New National Institute of Standards and Technology standard will help police link cartridge cases recovered at crime scenes to specific firearms.

New York City Shows New Law Enforcement Technology

August 8, 2012 - Officials believe a new situational awareness platform is a true one-stop shop for public safety data.

NYC Shows Analytics Can Save Lives (VIDEO)

August 8, 2012 - New York City departments combined data in an effort to combat needless deaths caused by fires in illegally converted apartments.

Report: Internet Privacy Law Update Proposed

August 7, 2012 - Two congressmen are trying to update a 1986 law that currently allows the government warrant-free access to any cloud-based data older than 180 days.

BMW Unveiling New Cop Cars

August 7, 2012 - Next month will bring Europe's General Police Equipment Exhibition & Conference and a new line of BMW law enforcement vehicles.

Digital Safety: The New Frontier in High School Classes

August 6, 2012 - Program teaches California teens about the dangers of sexting and cyberbullying as well as how to report incidents.

Web Tool Ignites Wildfire Preparedness Efforts

August 6, 2012 - A new Web application developed by Code for America is helping residents of Austin, Texas, better protect their homes from wildfires.

Inside a State-of-the-Art County Operations Center

August 6, 2012 - Report: Like something from a movie, a new $12.5 million operations center is planned for Macomb County, Mich.

Are You Ready for Civilian Drones?

August 2, 2012 - With the expansion of unmanned aerial vehicles into civilian life, drones could search for missing persons, feed photos and video to news outlets, and even deliver your takeout.

Accessible AlertSanDiego Brings Emergency Notifications via Text, Voice and Video

August 1, 2012 - San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services launches alternative emergency alerts for citizens who can’t understand traditional notifications.

Report: Berkeley, Calif., Cancels Armored Vehicle Request

July 31, 2012 - After local protest, police backed down from a request for a large, military-style, armor-plated vehicle.