Articles by publisher

Study Connects Head Injuries and Mental Health Challenges among Law Enforcement Officers

A new study is the first to shed light on the high prevalence of head injuries and related mental health symptoms in a previously overlooked population when it comes to concussion surveillance: law enforcement officers. The survey of Ohio law enforcement officers found that 74% reported a lifetime history of one or more head injuries and 30% had a head injury which happened on the job. Many more of these injuries went unreported than were treated by a health care…


Updates in the World of Traffic Safety and Enforcement

Stephenie Slahor, Ph.D. Recent advancements in traffic safety and enforcement focus on integrating a combination of new methods, practices, equipment, and strategies for improving road safety through data-driven insights and automated enforcement measures. Traffic safety encompasses a wide range of methods, practices, equipment, and strategies aimed at ensuring smooth traffic flow; vigilant drivers; and safer conditions for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and school zones. A wide variety of ideas; technology; imagination; and, yes, jurisdictional restrictions are all part of traffic safety….


Public Safety and Elections: A Guide for Law Enforcement

Developed by the National Policing Institute (NPI), this report is a comprehensive public safety resource based on peer-to-peer learning from law enforcement leaders. The report offers valuable, tested insights for agencies and officials preparing for a safe and secure election season. It aims to provide law enforcement leaders with strategies to adapt their existing expertise to the election context, recognize the diversity of local laws and community expectations, and effectively balance public safety with citizens’ constitutional rights. Download a full…


NIJ Updated Body Armor Standard: Adapting to Evolving Threats

Eugene Nielsen In response to the ever-changing landscape of threats faced by law enforcement, the NIJ has recently released an updated body armor standard designed to keep pace with evolving weapons and to improve the safety of female officers. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research, development and evaluation arm of the US Department of Justice (DOJ), has a long-standing history of publishing performance standards for ballistic-resistant police body armor. For over 50 years, these standards have been the…


Integrated Management of Intentional Mass Casualty Incidents

Eugene Nielsen The Hartford Consensus represents a significant shift in the approach to handling mass casualty events. By compressing the zones of care and integrating the roles of different responders, it aims to save more lives in the critical moments following such events. The Hartford Consensus is a set of lifesaving recommendations developed in response to the increasing frequency of active shooter and intentional mass casualty events. Initiated by the American College of Surgeons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation,…


Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator, 2024

The NIJ and its multidisciplinary partners have released an updated technical guide for conducting collaborative death scene investigations. The 2024 guide accounts for key changes in the field, including advances in DNA technology, communication and documentation technology; procedures for drug, child and infant death investigations; and collaboration between investigators and professional partners, families and the media.  This revised edition is a collaborative effort to update the content to ensure the best possible outcome for both death and criminal investigations today. Download…


Has Technology Eclipsed Training?

Mike Boyle Those of us who have been in the law enforcement field for 30 or more years continue to marvel at the tools readily available to today’s line officers. This is particularly true of firearms and related gear. Back in the day, I was issued a six-shot revolver and my Sam Browne belt contained a pair of dump pouches, a hickory stick and a set of handcuffs. Body armor was not an issued item and our shoulder weapons –…


Collaborative Reform Initiative Critical Response Columbus (Ohio) Division of Police: Independent Review of Use of Force Policies, Procedures and Protocols

The COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform Initiative – Critical Response program provides targeted technical assistance to law enforcement agencies experiencing high profile events, major incidents, or sensitive issues of varying need. Following a series of organizational and leadership changes at the Columbus (Ohio) Division of Police (CDP), Jensen Hughes conducted a thorough, independent review and analysis of the CDP’s policies, procedures and training and operational protocols pertaining to use of force. This publication presents the findings of that review and analysis…


Artificial Intelligence for Public Safety Trainers and Educators

John G. Peters, Jr., PSDS, CTC, Ph.D. ©2024. A.R.R. Most people are familiar with Artificial Intelligence (AI) through tools like Alexa, Siri or ChatGPT, but many still feel apprehensive. It is vital that public safety trainers and educators understand AI and how to use it to enhance training, making it more creative, efficient, effective, and productive. Like immigrants arriving in a new country or culture, we, too, are immigrants to the AI culture and need to assimilate its cultural norms…


America’s Law Enforcement Agents Need a National Narcotics Monitoring and Analysis Database

Michael Brown Officers currently use various databases for narcotics intelligence, including information on trafficking groups, their distributors, movements, and communications. However, a centralized database which can track and share the identification of existing and new illicit substances in real time as officers discover them could revolutionize their work. The collaboration and coordination among law enforcement departments across America play a pivotal role in addressing the pervasive opioid crisis gripping the nation. Despite concerted efforts to work together, coordinate activities and…