First Responders
FCC probes phony 911 calls, eyes cell phone culprits
May 21st, 2008
The Federal Communications Commission is planning to examine the problem of individuals making fraudulent 911 calls from cell phones that are connected to any telecommunications carrier’s wireless service plan, known in the industry as "non-service initialized" handsets.
Video surveillance or "Community Safety Cameras"?
May 19th, 2008
Chris Fox knows a thing or two about police work, and how police can use video surveillance to fight crime.
In fact, his police work in the United Kingdom, during the course of his 34-year career in law enforcement, was impressive enough to earn him the Queen’s Police Medal in 1996 and the title of "Sir," when he was knighted in the New Years Honors list 10 years later.
Video surveillance in a different "City by the Bay"
May 19th, 2008
One by one, large and small cities across the United States are installing lots of video cameras to watch their citizens in public spaces, connecting those cameras to monitoring centers by fiber optic cable or wireless "mesh" networks; thereby attempting to decrease crime.
Skelton: Iraq war strips homeland security resources
April 10th, 2008
Ike Skelton (D-MO), the powerful chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, warned that the demands to maintain military combat levels in Iraq are endangering the nation’s ability to supply first responders and the National Guard with equipment and personnel to respond to terrorist attacks on the homeland.
What’s inside a First Responder Bag?
March 20th, 2008
Ever wonder what supplies might be found inside a "First Responder Bag" used by Customs and Border Protection?
It turns out CBP is planning to procure 3,000 such first responder bags, made of red nylon, measuring 10 inches high by 20 inches wide by 15 inches deep, which will contain the following...
Cyber Storm II kicks off: Prepping for disaster, practice makes perfect
March 10th, 2008
Sometime this evening, in the still of the night, an incident will occur in Australia. It will cause government and private security officials on three continents to scramble. A potential terrorist cyber attack will be underway.
National Academy might "second-guess" the DNDO
February 26th, 2008
In accordance with instructions in the FY2008 omnibus appropriations bill, DHS is ready to hire the National Academy of Sciences to assist the department’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) in reviewing the use of Advanced Spectroscopic Portals at U.S. ports, the Nevada Test Site and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Simulated chemical releases planned for New England
February 15th, 2008
FEMA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are planning to run several exercises in New England during the next 18 months that would simulate medium-sized accidents at chemical plants involving the release of toxic chemicals.
