If you are wanting to know how other organizations are using GIS for public safety purposes there is a great resource in the
ESRI Public Safety website. You can pick from a selection of discipline links like
emergency management which provides both examples and "How to" information.
They have also unveiled a new
Resource Center with more technical information and a place to download tools and ask questions.
Lastly, they are on the ball with an
ESRI Twitter Site for public safety.
As I've said before, a map is one of the best situational tools you can use. The future is having these be digital--if you are not there already.