May 2018

Report on Mass Attacks in Public Spaces

The U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center has released a report, Mass Attacks in Public Spaces – 2017. The study focused on 28 incidents carried out in public places in the United States in 2017 during which three or more persons were harmed. The report takes an in-depth look into the commonalities of the attackers which include location of attack, weapons used, gender, age, substance abuse, criminal history, mental health, motives, targeting, stressors, and communications. NTAC examined the incidents…


New Report Focuses on Line of Duty Deaths and Officer Safety

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, in partnership with the United States Department of Justice’s Office of Community Policing Services (COPS), has released, Making it Safer: An Analysis of U.S. Law Enforcement Fatalities Between 2010-2016, a report which contains data driven analysis of line of duty deaths across an array of circumstances. The primary purpose of this report is to provide an in-depth analysis of the types of calls for police service which resulted in a law enforcement fatality,…


DelDOT Announces Mobile Driver License Pilot Study

The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has launched a mobile Driver License (mDL) pilot study which will run for six months. The pilot, which includes approximately 200 state employees and stakeholders, is designed to test user acceptance and new innovative features which can only be achieved with an mDL. “Delaware is among the first states to test a mobile driver’s license, and we’re excited to help move this new technology forward,” said Governor John Carney. “This six month pilot will…


Communications Advancement Marches Forward

By Dave George FirstNet™ – The future of critical communications is riding on this network.  Traditionally, first responders are LMR users; however, it’s clear the transition to LTE cellular is on the horizon. A communications app developer recently described smartphones as a “shadow IP” which almost every employee in the U.S. has access to, yet not all businesses take advantage of (though PTT over cellular or PoC multi-functionality is fast replacing LMR in the commercial sector). Luckily for public safety, FirstNet’s…


Transportation 2018

Sergeant James Post TRANSPORTATION 2018  P&SN presents its 20th annual report on the latest technical advances in police vehicles, components and aftermarket equipment. Welcome to our annual transportation issue where we cover all that’s new for the coming year – vehicles, emergency lighting and other accessories, plus all the results from the Michigan State Police (MSP) annual emergency vehicle tests. So, grab a cup of java, sit back and enjoy. Oh, yeah, don’t forget something to write with so you…


Train for the Fight

Mike Rayburn When the moment of truth has arrived, the time for preparation has passed. Are you training for the fight or are you training for the range? There is a difference, even though there shouldn’t be, but some departments are still doing “range practice” when they should be teaching “street fighting.” In today’s world of touchy-feely PC police departments, where we cry when we retire and can’t wait to show off our latest dance moves on YouTube, God forbid…


Police Use of Naloxone

Chris Fleming, Tod W. Burke, Ph.D. and Stephen S. Owen, Ph.D. Implementing overdose reversal programs has provided law enforcement agencies with a number of collateral benefits, including improved community relations. However, it is imperative to weigh both the benefits, as well as any potential drawbacks, before making any commitment. In Wisconsin, police were dispatched to the scene of an unresponsive two-year-old after he allegedly consumed OxyContin® pills, an opioid derivative. Despite interventions from first responders, the toddler was pronounced dead…


The Wheels of Justice May June 2018

Sergeant James Post A CONDENSED HISTORY OF POLICE CAR ENGINES (AND A FEW COOL CRUISERS, TOO) PART ONE We all think of history in different ways. Your high school history teacher probably traced history by the dates of significant events, while architects categorize history with building styles and sports fans track history by the big (or bad) games of their favorite teams. But, automobile fans (car guys/gals) organize their thinking by favorite years, makes and models. However, performance-minded buffs go…


Legal Update May June 2018

US Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Police in DC House Party Case Larry E. Holtz, Esq. A boisterous, late night Washington, DC, party leads to the arrest of partygoers and, ultimately, to a decision regarding probable cause. Recently, in District of Columbia v. Wesby, 583 U.S. ___ (2018), the United States Supreme Court rejected a claim made by 16 trespassing partygoers that the police lacked probable cause to arrest them. The circumstances unfolded at about 1:00 a.m. in the…


Law Enforcement Leadership May June 2018

Michael Carpenter Are You a Good Boss? Do You Want to Find Out? The reality is that honestly determining whether or not you are a good police commander can be difficult. There may be people around you who will praise your virtues, no matter what you do. Of course, there will also be those whom you will not be able to satisfy, no matter how good you really are as a commander. Somewhere between those two extremes is the truth…