Public Safety Signals
A discussion of Public Safety issues and why they matter
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 »
Fulbright at Capella University
2008 Mar 7 Posted by Charles
Last month at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne, VA, Capella University was honored to offer learners and faculty an overview of the Fulbright Program. This session was presented by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) during one of our doctoral colloquia.
The Fulbright Program is one of the world’s most recognized and prestigious award programs serving over 100 countries. The program is sponsored by the United States Department of State, administered by CIES and promotes learning, leadership and cultural understanding between nations. It is intended for scholars, students and professionals interested in research, teaching or advanced study in a particular country and/or field. Read the rest of this entry »
Explosion in Times Square in New York City
2008 Mar 6 Posted by Joseph Pascarella
A small, unsophisticated explosive device detonated early this morning at approximately 3:40 AM Eastern Standard Time Zone at the storied Times Square military Recruiting station in New York City today. Although the damage was minimal, the attack was one of many “lesser attacks” in comparison to the two attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City within the last one hundred years. According to a video released by initial investigators, the device appeared to have been planted by one or more persons on a bicycle who alighted from the bicycle, planted the device, and then fled.
Although threats to contemporary safety may have evolved, New York City has remained a perennial target. Some other lesser known attacks include an attack in the Wall Street area in 1920 that killed thirty (30) persons and caused signficant damage. From 1940 to 1956 New York City was actually terrorized by a serial bomber, George Metesky knicknamed “the Mad Bombers” who detonated or planted a series of homemade bombs in locations such as Grand Central Terminal and Radio City Music Hall. Also, in 1975, an explosive device was planted at the historical Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan killing four persons and injuring thirty. The same terrorist group, FALN that was involved in the Fraunces Tavern attack planted an explosive device at Police Headquarters in lower Manhattan that exploded seriously injuring two police officers on New Years Eve 1982. Although the attackers and motives have changed over the last century, New York City has remained a target.
As always, take care and stay safe.
Joe Pascarella
Politics of Public Safety II
2008 Mar 4 Posted by Joseph Pascarella
Earlier this year, I wrote about the upcoming Presidential election and public safety. At that time, there was not much clarity in the race from both parties.
As of this writing, it appears that Senator John McCain of Arizona has clinched the Republican nomination and will face off in against either Senator Hillary Clinton from New York or Senator Barack Obama from Illinois. Given the backgrounds of each of the three, this should engage in some very interesting debate and dialogue about public safety. Senator McCain is a Vietnam veteran, Senator Obama has lived in several different geographic regions of the country and Senator Clinton has represented the State of New York since 2000 and has lead the state through the perils of 9/11.
Either of the three candidates has a very challenging mandate with respect to Public Safety, given the geopolitical circumstances of not changed significantly since the 9/11 attacks and an entire government agency, the Department of Homeland Security has been operational for nearly five years. Public safety issues will certainly be on the forefront during the election process.
Take care and stay safe.
Joe Pascarella
Rethinking Campus Security
2008 Feb 19 Posted by Joseph Pascarella
The unfortunate murder-suicide in which 6 persons were murdered on the campus of Northern Illinois University less than a year after the tragic incident at Virginia Tech University stokes the debate about campus security. College campuses, particularly those in suburban areas that are relatively open in terms of physical security.
The ideal is that college campuses should be open and liberating to reflect the openess and free-thinking of academe. The reality is that college campuses are areas that consist of large gatherings of persons and contemporary threats to public safety warrant an re-evlaution of safety measures. Physical security within campuses is becoming an increasingly complex endeavor that requires the cooperation of all components of college administration.
As always, take care and stay safe.
Joe Pascarella
LAPD SWAT member killed in the Line of Duty
2008 Feb 9 Posted by Joseph Pascarella
Tragically, a Los Angeles Police Department LAPD officer, Officer Randal Simmons, was murdered in the Line of Duty this past week while attempting to apprehend a man who was barricaded in his home after the man had murdered three family members.
Officer Randal Simmons was assigned to the elite SWAT Team of the LAPD and it was the first Line of Duty Death in the storied history of the SWAT Team.
SWAT is an acronym for “Special Weapons and Tactics” and members of the SWAT Team are the most proficient, highly trained, and specialized members of the police. There is a saying in policing circles, “when a citizen is in trouble, the citizen calls a cop, when a cop is in trouble, they call the SWAT Teams (and other specialized Emergency Service Police Officers). The LAPD SWAT time is legendary both within and outside of the Public Safety community.
This horrific incident, in which a man with reportededly a history of mental illness, highlights the danger and potential deadliness of “domestic disturbances” that are responded to by public safety officers on a daily basis. Often, public safety personnel have very little information what is going on inside a confined location and must make decisions with vague or incomplete information.
Take care and stay safe.
Joe Pascarella
Deadly Mall Shooting in Suburban Chicago
2008 Feb 3 Posted by Joseph Pascarella
Yesterday, during an apparent Robbery at a shopping mall in Tinley Park, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago), five persons were murdered in a robbery that went bad. Additionally, the alleged offender has not yet been apprehended. Accoring to the early investigations, up to 37 persons in one store were held hostage during the robbery.
Large gatherings such as shopping malls present enduring Safety issues for public safety given the prevalence of firearms in the United States. Although estimates are very difficult, firearms, both legally and illegal, are very pervasive in the United States. This is especially challenging for Public Safety agencies given the continued population growth and development in the United States. Firearms control policy has been an emotional debate in recent United States history and during this upcoming presidential election, that policy is likely to be debated once again.
Take care and stay safe.
Joe Pascarella
School Safety: A Public Safety Imperative
2008 Jan 29 Posted by Charles
The latest report from the U.S. Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Statistics highlights that there were 35 school associated violent deaths between July 2005 - June 2006 and that during this same period 78% of schools experienced one or more violent incidents of crime. School safety must be a priority in every school district, for every community and for every law enforcement agency. Pre-event contingency planning, threat analysis and safety planning should continue to be incorporated into the daily operations of our schools - from primary school through our halls of higher education. I applaud those in public safety, parents, community leaders, teachers and school administrators who continue to act as catalysts for positive movement in this area and who push for enhanced awareness and safety interventions. I definitely look forward to reviewing the next DOJ/BJS report and hope that it will show a marked decrease from prior years in school related violence.
Take care,
Charles
About
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.
Authors
Archives
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
Links
Podcast
Public Safety Jobs
Public Safety Web sites
- 4thosewhoserve.org
- Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society
- American Correctional Association
- American Jail Association
- American Society of Criminology
- Association of Public Safety Communications Officials - International
- Bureau of Justice Statistics
- Correctional Population (BJS)
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- EMS Responder
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Federal Emergency Management Association
- FEMA Higher Education Project
- Firehouse.com
- International Association of Emergency Managers
- Military Police
- National Emergency Management Association
- National Emergency Number Association
- National Fire Academy
- National Response Framework
- National Violence Against Woven Prevention Research Center
- The International Association of Chiefs of Police
- The International Association of Fire Chiefs
- The Police Foundation
