Articles by publisher

Security Integration – Using Our Collaborative Expertise to Prevent Violent Crime and Build Trust

Published by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, this article discusses an event held earlier this year in which representatives from a select group of law enforcement agencies came together from across the country in Tampa, Florida. This event was a peer-to-peer learning opportunity cosponsored by the Tampa Police Department, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the US Secret Service. The meeting’s purpose was to provide practitioners with an opportunity to learn from one another regarding the responsible use of technology,…


Responding to Current Public Safety Challenges in Cities

The COPS Office recently released this publication summarizing a leadership meeting between local government and law enforcement.  In March 2022, 50 mayors, police chiefs and other representatives of law enforcement executive organizations met at the Winter Leadership Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors to discuss the cooperation necessary between local government and law enforcement to keep cities safe. Topics included ordinances, technology options, and community interventions and other initiatives to respond to and reduce gun violence; officer recruitment and…


FBI Report on LEOs Killed in the Line of Duty

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released a report on law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, including data on felonious deaths from 2022. The FBI continuously releases this data through the Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program. The program’s statistics provide information which law enforcement can use to protect officers and prevent future incidents. LEOKA adheres to a general set of law enforcement officer criteria when gathering data. According to the report, the number…


Targeting Cartel Money Laundering Is Essential for Combating US Fentanyl Crisis

Michael Brown To effectively undermine the cartels and curtail the flow of fentanyl, it is crucial to disrupt their financial supply chain. In 2022, there was a slight increase in drug overdose deaths in the US following two significant spikes during the pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials report that the numbers remained stable for the majority of the year. It is uncertain whether this indicates that the deadliest drug overdose crisis in US history is approaching…


How Long Does DNA Last on Different Surfaces?

Recent NIJ funded research reveals how long DNA is detectable on various surfaces under different conditions. This article is based on the grantee report, “Persistence of Touch DNA for Forensic Analysis,” by Meghan Ramsey. Since the first use of DNA evidence in a criminal case in 1986, forensic scientists have considered biological material (such as hair, skin and bodily fluids) to be relatively reliable physical evidence. While early technology required a substantial amount of biological material to extract enough DNA…


2023 Innovations in Body Armor and Ballistic Materials

Jake Ganor What are some of the recent developments and advancements in technologies aimed at enhancing ballistic protection? April 2023 marked the launch of Kevlar® EXO™, a product which DuPont heralds as the most groundbreaking aramid fiber innovation in over half a century. Currently, specifics about its performance characteristics are still under wraps, but, in an interview with one of its inventors, it has been disclosed that Kevlar EXO is a chemically modified form of aramid, with improved hydrogen bonding…


COVID-19 Law Enforcement Impact and Response

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) recently released the new report, “Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC): COVID-19 Law Enforcement Impact and Response.” The COVID-19 public health emergency drastically affected law enforcement. The functions of law enforcement required in-person work and community interaction, and law enforcement agencies were challenged to maintain operational levels of service while keeping officers, employees and community members safe. The COPS Office CRI-TAC monitored law enforcement pandemic response from March 2020 through…


Ballistic Armor Update: 2023

P&SN Staff The 30th Annual Report on the Latest Advances in Ballistic Armor Technology and Design Although major technological advancements and groundbreaking product developments are infrequent across industries, incremental improvements in existing product lines and the introduction of new products with innovative features occur annually. The ballistic protection industry is no exception to this pattern, as the past 12 months has witnessed numerous minor modifications which hold the potential to enhance the design and effectiveness of ballistic armor. To follow…


BUSTED! Real Stories of Genuine Absurdity July/August 2023

James L. McClinton Would you like fries with that?… A Canadian man recently opened “The Drugs Store,” a mobile shop, in Vancouver. The man, who sold heroin, meth, cocaine, and ecstasy, was arrested for drug trafficking less than 24 hours after launching the business. He said he wanted to give people a safe supply of drugs which have been tested to ensure they didn’t contain fentanyl. Police said they started gathering evidence “after the suspect started selling cocaine, crack, methamphetamine,…


Best Body Armor Practices

Matt Craig Law enforcement is a recognizably dangerous profession, with a fatality rate five times higher than the average US worker.  To help mitigate these occupational risks, most law enforcement agencies have mandatory policies in place for wearing personal protective equipment, such as soft armor vests, hard armor plates and ballistic helmets. The use of body armor has saved the lives of more than 3,000 officers in the last three decades, according to the National Institute of Justice. If officers…