Ramesh NybergHonoring 40 Years One of the coldest nights I can remember in South Florida was also one of the warmest – in my heart, that is. It was January 17th, 1985, and I was working uniform in our South District. Now, many of you Northerners will laugh when I tell you how “cold” it was, but let me tell you, when you grow up in Miami and that’s all the weather you know, 26 degrees is pretty damned chilly….
Eugene Nielsen PMOs represent a departure from traditional sighting systems, requiring a shift not only in the physical techniques officers employ, but also in the mindset they bring to firearms handling. The adoption of Pistol Mounted Optics (PMOs) in law enforcement has surged in recent years, fundamentally transforming the way officers engage with their firearms. As technology evolves, agencies across the country are recognizing the tactical advantages which PMOs offer in enhancing accuracy, reducing time to target acquisition and increasing…
John G. Peters, Jr., Ph.D., and Mitchell Lucas ©2025. A.R.R. There has been a marked increase in criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the alleged misuse of restraint chairs to control or confine individuals, primarily within correctional settings. A notable case occurred in Clayton County, Georgia, where former Sheriff Victor Hill was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison for improperly placing new inmates in a restraint chair as a form of punishment. Surveillance video and audio evidence showed…
The COPS Office recently released the “Elements of an Effective Active Shooter Course Fact Sheet.” This fact sheet is designed to help law enforcement leaders and trainers determine whether an active shooter training fits their needs. Law enforcement leaders and training personnel should review these topics and activities and determine whether their current active shooter training successfully incorporates these features.To download a copy of the fact sheet, visit https://tinyurl.com/5fyj8mh3
Stephenie Slahor, Ph.D. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept. Once confined to research laboratories and science fiction novels, AI is beginning to shape and promises to further transform how law enforcement agencies patrol, investigate and engage with communities. Across the United States, law enforcement leaders are grappling with both the opportunities and the risks presented by this technology. The pace of innovation is rapid. From predictive policing to automated video analysis, AI offers new ways to anticipate…
John G. Peters, Jr., Ph.D. ©2025. A.R.R. How can law enforcement agencies implement a culture of safety to prevent restraint-related deaths and ensure timely intervention when a detainee shows signs of distress? Following a controlled drug transaction with an undercover officer, a surveillance team moved in to make an arrest. Upon noticing marked police vehicles approaching, the suspect exited his vehicle and ran across a rain slicked grassy strip situated between a sidewalk and a chain-link fence. Officers pursued him…
Join colleagues from across the public safety community at the 20th Annual International Conference of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, Inc. (IPICD), being held November 10-13, 2025, at the Gold Coast Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. This year’s conference, themed “Reframing the Basics, Shaping the Future,” will focus on reexamining foundational practices and exploring new approaches. The event offers a platform for thoughtful discussion, practical insights and collaboration among professionals dedicated to improving outcomes in the field….
This self-assessment tool is designed to assist public safety and emergency response professionals, school administrators and security professionals, elected officials, and communities in considering potential active shooter scenarios and options for dealing with them. The tool proposes questions to determine an agency’s preparedness status in seven categories; offers guidance to inform next steps; and recommends resources for improving policies and practices to reduce community potential for mass violence, swiftly respond to incidents, and enhance trauma and support services in their…
Stephenie Slahor, Ph.D. This year’s report highlights traffic safety challenges including rising pedestrian deaths and poor infrastructure, along with the GHSA urging better designs and stronger community involvement. The year 2020 saw a 40 year high in pedestrian fatalities. While, for the past two years, pedestrian deaths were down by about four percent overall, the situation still sees alarming upward trends in hit-and-run incidents, particularly at sites where sidewalks and/or night lighting are scant or nonexistent. The Governors Highway Safety…
Street-level crime is down significantly in Schenectady, NY, as officers implement the groundbreaking software tool, Patrolfinder, to improve patrol coverage. The Schenectady Police Department (SPD) and software firm Transfinder Corporation unveiled these results during their presentation at the Division of Criminal Justice Services Public Safety Symposium in September. During SPD’s presentation, Chief Eric Clifford and several officers noted that the patented solution, Patrolfinder, is already transforming how officers serve the community. The presentation, led by Chief Clifford and Transfinder CEO…