Articles by publisher

Springfield Armory® FIRSTLINE Program Continues Its Support of America’s FirstResponders

Springfield Armory reports that its FIRSTLINE program – launched in 2022 to support law enforcement and other first responders – remains active and widely used in 2026. FIRSTLINE was created to give qualified professionals direct access to duty-ready firearms at substantial discounts through a simple, point-of-sale process. “From the start, FIRSTLINE was built around the needs of working officers,” says Fred Mincks, Law Enforcement Sales Manager for Springfield Armory. “We recognize the demands placed on today’s first responders, and this…


Drone Deployment Policies and Training in Law Enforcement: A Tactical Evolution

Eugene Nielsen The integration of unmanned aerial systems (drones) into law enforcement – from SWAT operations to traffic monitoring and search and rescue – has revolutionized public safety by delivering unprecedented speed, situational awareness and officer safety. As of 2023, over 1,400 law enforcement agencies in the US actively used drones. This is a 54% increase over six years. However, with this rapid adoption comes the critical need for robust policies, comprehensive training and adherence to federal regulations. Policy Framework:…


Adaptive Crowd Control Management: Merging Italian Doctrine with American Practice

Andrea “Mahigun” Bogiatto Crowd and civil disturbance operations are among the most complex tasks in modern policing. Urban density, rapid information flow, and the psychological volatility of large groups have rendered improvisation and experience-based approaches increasingly obsolete. In the United States, analyses by the Department of Justice (“After-Action Assessment of the Police Response to the 2020 Protests,” 2022) and the National Institute of Justice (“Police Response to Mass Demonstrations,” 2020) identified three recurring structural weaknesses: 1) absence of a unified…


Protecting Yourself from Doxing

One emerging cyber threat which can impact individuals, including law enforcement officers, other criminal justice practitioners and their families, is doxing. Doxing occurs when someone’s personal information is discovered and maliciously exposed online. This can include uncovering someone’s real name, home address, place of employment, and other personal information. It is important to ensure that apps, browsers and devices are set in a way which minimizes the risk of compromise. Our digital footprint consists of a plethora of personal data…


NamUs Database and Program Offer Critical Resources for Law Enforcement Investigators

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NamUs, connects law enforcement with no-cost tools and resources to resolve missing and unidentified person cases. This includes state-of-the-art technology to securely store, share and compare case information with other criminal justice professionals. Law enforcement personnel can register to become professional NamUs users and search/view case information like dental records, fingerprint cards and other sensitive information. They can also add, edit and track cases through their authorized permissions in the system. Along…


Managing Critical Incidents and Mass Demonstrations

The National Policing Institute (NPI) recently released its latest InFocus resource titled “Managing Critical Incidents and Mass Demonstrations.” From large political rallies to spontaneous community demonstrations, the American tradition of protest has grown in both frequency and intensity over the past decade. While these events are a vital expression of democracy, they also pose significant challenges for public safety. The NPI’s InFocus resource includes what we know about protests in critical incidents; preparation and accountability gaps; and practical steps for…


High-risk Explosives Sweep Course

The High-risk Explosives Sweep Course provides participants with foundational knowledge of explosive sweep protocols and an opportunity to practice high-risk explosives sweep techniques of a large facility, an area and routes.  This one-and-a-half hours Independent Study Training (IST) is a self-paced, Web-based course covers the following topics: Participant roles in performing high-risk explosives sweeps; sweep fundamentals and identifying best practices and procedures for high-risk explosives sweeps; and conducting thorough and systematic sweeps at large facilities, areas and routes. Visit https://tinyurl.com/vnw4z5tp…


System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER)

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) manages the SAVER Program to assist emergency responders in making procurement decisions. Since its inception in 2004, the SAVER Program has produced more than 1,100 publications. These publications – which include focus group, market survey and assessment reports, as well as tech notes, application notes, handbooks, guides, and other documents – are described in detail on the SAVER Document Descriptions page. They provide valuable information…


Agency Successes in After-Action Reviews

The National Policing Institute (NPI) recently posted its InFocus resource, “Highlighting Agency Successes in After-Action Reviews.” After-Action Reviews (AARs) have long played an essential role in improving performance – not only in law enforcement, but also in the military, aviation, public health, and the private sector. Their value extends from analyzing large-scale incidents to refining routine daily operations. This resource includes defining AARs; examples which document effective, successful agency responses; seven key questions for after-action reviews; as well as how…


ABLE Employee Wellness Guidance

The COPS Office has partnered with Georgetown Law’s Center for Innovations in Community Safety to publish this guidance for agen­cies wishing to train their personnel in the ABLE curriculum – Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement. The ABLE curriculum creates a law enforcement culture of effective peer intervention to prevent harm to officers, departments and communities; this publication provides additional information on programs, training and resources specifically to reinforce employee wellness. A copy of the publication can be downloaded at https://tinyurl.com/4cf7yaxu