Public Safety Signals
A discussion of Public Safety issues and why they matter
Dr. Marian Mosser joins Capella public safety faculty team
2008 Jun 30 Posted by Charles
I am proud to announce that Dr. Marian Mosser has joined the Capella public safety faculty team. Marian retired from the U.S. Army in 1997 at the rank of lieutenant colonel and during her career in the military she coordinated with FBI, CIA, NSA officials and foreign intelligence and security officials to investigate and deter terrorism. She developed and executed an anti-terrorism and emergency response plans to protect U.S. facilities, buildings, and personnel before and after the first New York World Trade Center bombing; managed a 30 person anti-terrorism cell that implemented a security protection plan and emergency planning and response procedures to safeguard facilities, equipment and personnel in three separate countries during Desert Shield Desert Storm; served as the U.S. Army’s senior antiterrorism officer managing the Antiterrorism Cell in the Intelligence and Operations Center in the Pentagon, which over saw emergency preparedness throughout the U.S. Army with regard to acts of terror; and oversaw the operations of various U.S. intelligence systems into the Bosnia area of operation.
In 2007, Dr. Mosser traveled to Israel to attend the Executive Counter-Terrorism Course at the Institute Counter Terrorism, Herzliya, Israel. While in Israel, she meet with senior foreign officials and others to discuss counter terrorism methods to prevent suicide bombings.
Dr. Mosser has served in numerous crisis operations assignments and assisted in investigations such as PAN AM 103 and the first World Trade Center bombing. Most note worthy was her providing critical intelligence to security agencies resulting in the capture of five terrorist’s and her participated in counterintelligence investigations to detect and identify individuals and groups conducting espionage and terrorism against the U.S., which resulted in the location and capture of a spy.
Dr. Mosser has lectured on global perspectives of terrorism and emergency preparedness at; FEMA Higher Ed Conference in 2008, University of North Carolina-Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College, and numerous local radio and television and continues to provide antiterrorism, security, and emergency preparedness and respond training for law enforcement officers and first responder’s worldwide. Dr. Marian Mosser was the region 4 coordinator for the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management for the last year.
Marian should be joining us at Public Safety Signals in the near future. Please join me in welcoming Marian to our discussions of current and important issues to public safety.
The Right to Public Safety II
2008 Jun 27 Posted by Joseph Pascarella
A few months ago, we posted here that the United States Supreme Court was adjudicating a very important decision regarding firearms control policy in the case of Washington, D.C. v. Heller.
According to legal analysts, this ruling will have little effect on existing policies and laws.
The case centers around a local law in Washington, DC that bans the possession of handguns in the home for self-defense. The United States Supreme Court ruled in Heller that the law violated the Second Amendment of the Constitution by a 5-4 ruling. This split is consistent with the divide in the United States regarding firearms control policy in that a significant percentage of citizens feel that firearms are dangerous weapons that should be banned while a significant percentage of citizens consider the possession of firearms a Constitutional right.
In the middle are Public Safety personnel that must confront violence on a daily basis. Part of the issue is that regardless of the laws and policies, many criminals flout the existing laws and policies rendering them of little utility.
Terrorism Theorists 101
2008 Jun 8 Posted by Joseph Pascarella
Two preeminent and respected scholars in the United States, Dr. Bruce Hoffman and Dr. Marc Sageman are apparently in disagreement regarding the structure and development of terror cells and terror organizations. Both scholars have diverse and expert backgrounds and have conducted significant research on terrorists, terror cells, and terror organizations. Read the rest of this entry »
Drug Enforcement and Contemporary Public Safety
2008 May 27 Posted by Joseph Pascarella
Although contemporary public safety must address new and evolving threats, drug enforcement remains a perennial challenge. In yesterday’s New York Times, there was an article about the dangers of high ranking public safety officials stepping up enforcement efforts in Mexico.
These incidents in Mexico are important to the United States given the patterns and flow of illegal drugs on the North American continent. Additionally, other criminal networks, such as terror cells are likely to engage in illegal drug and human trafficking to generate both funding and methods of entrance into the United States. Although the traditional methods of drug enforcement and illegal drug smuggling remain a constant battle, newer threats compel public safety to address this problem from a new perspective.
Take care and stay safe.
Joe Pascarella
Politics of Disaster Relief
2008 May 9 Posted by Joseph Pascarella
A devastating cyclone has that struck the nation of Myanmmar last weekend that killed 100,000 persons is now in the Second Response or recovery phase. Part of the recovery phase entails rescue and relief for those afflicted in the region. The government of Myanmmar has reportedly seized aid in a dispute over distribution and control of the aid
These types of decisions made by officials serious hamper on ground operations and have detrimental effects in the long term. Unfortunately, there are few, if any accountability measures and the detrimental long term effects are hard to quantify and measure. However, small decisions during the recovery phase do have resounding effects.
Take care and stay safe.
Joe Pascarella
Criminal Justice National Honor Society at Capella Colloquium
2008 Apr 28 Posted by Charles
Alpha Phi Sigma National Honor Society at Atlanta Colloquium
Last week at our residential colloquium in Atlanta we had the distinct pleasure of inducting 63 learners into Iota Omicron, which is Capella University’s chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma national honor society. Our chapter is less than a year old and this was our very first induction meeting. We were honored to have our Interim President Dr. Valerie Perkins and School of Human Services Dean Dr. Chris Cassirer as special guest speakers at this ceremony honoring our inductees.
Also in attendance we had Dr. Truc-Nhu Ho (chapter faculty advisory) and Dr. Joe Pascarella (associate faculty advisor). Both faculty members participated in the ceremony and congratulated the attending inductees.
We take great pride inducting these learners into one of the country’s oldest academic honor societies and pride in their achievements in respect to academic excellence.
I look forward to the next face to face meeting of the honor society. Congratulations again to all of our inductees and to the thousands of Alpha Phi Sigma members across the country.
Charles
p.s. please let me know of any other leading academic honor societies that you recommend that cover our public safety area, emergency management, leadership, etc.? Thanks
Long Term Care for Veterans
2008 Apr 21 Posted by Joseph Pascarella
This blog has reiterated through several posts the importance of personnel issues in public safety. The human element in public safety, albeit domestic public safety or international public safety cannot be emphasized enough.
The type of stress and pressure can be overwhelming and have long-term detrimental effects. The United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs is making a sound investement by initiating a program giving hotline counselors instant access to the caller’s health records. This information will streamline information and hopefully services for the client in need of services. These types of programs are critical given the need for follow-up care for personnel that may be suffering from long term effects of trauma. Given that research in this field is still developing, the effects of long term trauma cannot be ignored.
Take care and stay safe.
Joe Pascarella
Quantifying and Elusive Threat
2008 Apr 13 Posted by Joseph Pascarella
Counter terrorism officials in Britain are releasing a report warning that the terror threat in Britain is actually worsening. This is not good news for not only Britain, but the entire European Union and given the decentralized and globalized structure of contemporary terror threats, other countries under threat throughout the. According to Jacqui Smith, the British Home Secretary, there are currently 200 terror networks, 30 active plots and 2,000 individuals under monitor by British officials. The Home Secretary also stated that these numbers represent an increase from the preceding year.
Quantifying this type of threat is particularly challenging given that the intensity of terror plots may vary and the investigations are very sophisticated. Additionally, it is unknown how many terror plots are deterred due to proactive investigations and enforcement. Another challenge is to quantify the expansiveness of the network. Public safety agencies worldwide are now required to monitor threats in other countries and assess how those threats maybe relevant to other countries. Part of this process requires an endeavor to try and quantify these threats.
Take care and stay safe.
Joe Pascarella
The Right To Public Safety
2008 Mar 20 Posted by Joseph Pascarella
The debate over firearms control is enjoying yet another historical evolution as the United States Supreme Court is attempting to interpret and apply the Second Amendment in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller. The raging and eduring debate is focused on one phrase, and perhaps one comma in the twenty-seven word amendment:
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. Does this mean that the government militia has the right to bear arms, or that individual citizens may bear arms as part of a miltia, or can individual citizens alone have the right to bear arms?
Firearms control is a topic that is hotly debated and perspectives are based and differ due to the various backgrounds, ideologies, and regional cultures of the United States. Perhaps the case of District of Columbia v. Heller will settle the debate over the original intent of the frames of the Bill of Rights.
Joe Pascarella
A discussion of Public Safety and online education at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) conference
2008 Mar 20 Posted by Charles
I had the pleasure of attending the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) conference in Cincinnati last week. Faculty members Drs. Joe Pascarella and Howard Henderson attended as well. Joe presented on the interdisciplinary approach to public safety that serves as the foundation to our online public safety program. Howard presented on the influence of online education in the criminal justice field. Those sessions were followed by a panel discussion on online education. Read the rest of this entry »
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Public Safety Signals provides a venue for those working or interested in the public safety field to join in a conversation about the latest news, trends and important issues related to public safety. The authors are experienced professionals and educators in the field of public safety, but your topic suggestions and insightful comments are needed to keep this site relevant and engaging.
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