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"This is an example of great restraint and excellent police work in dealing with a mental health issue where the outcome could have been much different," Bob Gualtieri said. Sachse, 54, has been with the sheriff's office since March 17, 2004. He received Crisis Intervention Training the following year. The training is designed to teach deputies how to recognize mental health issues and to deal with them in the most effective manner, according to the sheriff's office.

In 2014-15, the Ebola virus was a source of devastation for millions in West Africa. The disease-which quickly causes severe hemorrhaging, organ failure, and death-was primarily found in isolated parts of central Africa until the outbreak. The three nations at the center of the epidemic were Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, all of which share borders. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization confirmed more than 11,000 deaths from 28,000 cases of Ebola through the end of August 2015. The Ebola epidemic was a major test for crisis responders in the public health field. First responders and crisis response agencies can learn from the way organizations across the globe worked together to ultimately contain the virus. Examining both global and local efforts reveals some key lessons about readiness in any situation. Some of these lessons may be important immediately, as the Zika virus spreads and becomes a global threat.

The FBI has helped to disrupt or prevent nearly 150 shootings and violent attacks this year, in part by steering potential gunmen toward mental health professionals.

Law enforcement agents are trained to handle a variety of life-threatening situations, from talking down a suspect wielding a weapon to evacuating large areas following a natural disaster. Even when officers are well prepared, certain situations may require the assistance of other professionals. These professionals become especially important when law enforcement agents engage people with severe mental illness (SMI). In the U.S., one in four adults experiences mental illness. For 9.3 million Americans the problems can be severe enough to impede their ability to act rationally. Most people suffering a mental illness are not violent, criminal or dangerous. Yet, they are ten times more likely to be incarcerated than committed to a state psychiatric hospital. Increasingly, police officers serve as the first line of contact when those living with mental illness are at their most disoriented.

Difficulty measuring the effects of disaster preparedness has prevented a proper accounting of its benefits, says a paper published by the Institute of Medicine. "In principle, we could evaluate the effectiveness of an investment in preparedness with appropriate measures of outcomes such as response times, property saved, etc.," the paper (.pdf) says. But because emergencies are relatively rare and so different from each other, researchers rely on case studies or other qualitative methods, instead of empirical studies. The authors of the paper, dated Jan. 7, are two emergency medicine professors--Jesse Pines of George Washington University and Seth Seabury of the University of Southern California--and William Pilkington, the public health director for Cabarrus County, N.C.

Mental illness has long been one of the most difficult health problems to diagnose. Because so many of the symptoms are hidden from sight, it is not easy to recognize when people need help. For police officers, this assessment is often made under stressful conditions, when an individual may present a danger to themselves or others. Faced with societal stigmas against mental illness, first responders struggle to marry sensitivity and safety.

In the year following the Newtown tragedy, police have reassessed the way they'd respond to a similar incident, and a number of departments are learning how to better work with people who have mental health issues or are in crisis.

Police psychologist Jack Digliani has just produced the 5th Edition of his Police and Sheriff's Peer Support Team Training Manual which he has always made available for free here on CopsAlive.com. He is also recommending that police officers agencies, and other law enforcement professionals consider doing an Annual Proactive Check-In. What is a Proactive Annual Check In? The Proactive Annual Check-In (PAC) provides police officers… and other agency employees with a confidential setting within which to share information about current life circumstances. It is a proactive program designed to offer a positive exchange thoughts, ideas, and information.

Emergency medical technicians perform one of the most critical jobs, but they also face a high degree of risk. In addition to the physical and health dangers that accompany each call, EMTs can easily find themselves in the center of legal disputes. Alarmingly, cases against them are often based on verbal accusations alone. To ensure that EMTs can remain legally defensible, certain services are now requiring their employees to wear body cameras. These cameras can document interactions with the public and provide a tangible record to be used in court, if necessary. As with every new technology, however, video cameras present challenges when integrating into an EMT's daily routine.

Gary Sommers has over 40 years service in law enforcement first with the Prince George's Police Department and now with the Montgomery County Police Department both of which are in Maryland. It was while he was working on the Prince George's County SWAT Team in 1988 that Gary was involved in a Blue on Blue shooting that resulted in the death of his best friend and partner, Sgt. Mark Murphy.

Already tasked with many responsibilities, firefighter duties are expanding in a few cities to include more medical care. Unlike tactical medical teams, where EMTs are given tactical skills to use on the scene, this medical attention occurs after an individual has been discharged from the hospital.

By aiding first responders in their efforts and providing care for disaster victims, medical centers play a vital role in the success of emergency response. All agencies, including medical institutions, must examine how they act before, during and after an emergency to improve their end-to-end disaster preparedness.

Former Ohio State Trooper Bob Welsh Shares His Christmas Eve Story

Law enforcement agencies depend on new technology to help them ensure public safety. One such innovation is virtual firearms training, a practice facility that replaces traditional guns with digital ones. Several agencies across the U.S. are exploring use of virtual firearms training to save costs, increase efficiency and flexibility, and dramatically lower the risks to officers.