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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.

The number of law enforcement line of duty deaths in the U.S. dropped to its lowest level in six decades in 2013. Preliminary data released Monday in the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's annual research bulletin noted that this was also the second year in a row the number of fatalities dropped and that the fewest number of officers were killed in firearms-related incidents since the 1800s

One of the basic technologies that enables what we often refer to as the Internet of Things is embedded Linux, a version of Linux that runs on machines that aren't computers in the traditional sense. A lot of the new "smart" devices joining Wi-Fi networks in the home and office are running some variant of it, as do a lot of those home-Wi-Fi routers themselves. Researchers at security-software company Symantec say they've found a worm that proves that, eventually, these devices may be ripe for attack. It's called Linux.Darlloz, and it appears to have been built to infect versions of Linux found in home routers, TV set-top boxes and security cameras, and also some industrial-control systems.

Firefighters who work at San Francisco International Airport are receiving additional training on how to respond to airplane crashes following the Asiana Airlines accident in which a teenage girl was run over and killed by two emergency vehicles while lying wounded on the runway. Commanding officers from the San Francisco Fire Department's airport division will receive 40 to 80 hours of advanced instruction next year at the Fire Training Research Center at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday. Instructors from the center already have provided basic disaster response training in San Francisco to 80 of the department's firefighters and paramedics.

Over the past few months, numerous media outlets propagated the image of U.S. law enforcement officers in military-grade armor, inferring a formidable police presence and sparking national debate. Many departments cite the increasing sophistication of weapons and threats of terrorism as motivation to strengthen their resources. While U.S. lawmakers and local police departments evaluate the efficacy and appropriateness of police militarization, researchers are looking for ways to improve the communication and judgment of officers who face stressful encounters with potentially lethal threats. - See more at: http://www.envisagenow.com/clear-communication-has-more-impact-than-military-equipment/#sthash.hJkyCIaU.dpuf

The U.S. Coast Guard is gathering information from suppliers of "Non-Lethal Impact Munitions," which the Coast Guard might furnish to its maritime boarding teams in an effort to reduce the likelihood that they will need to resort to lethal force.

Over the past two years, people adopted smart technology with increasing frequency. According to the Pew Research Center, half of American adults today own a tablet or e-reader. First responders are among the professional groups who have found ways to integrate these devices into their day-to-day operations. As tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices enter the public safety scene, however, agents must not only familiarize themselves with their use, but also understand their benefits and drawbacks.

No matter the industry, your job requires you to develop a particular mindset in order to perform well. Whether you fabricate metal, perform surgery, or control operations in a large company, your mind must be focused on the task at hand. For law enforcement professionals, the right mindset necessitates some cynicism. Cynicism is an inherent part of police culture. Outside of the first responder and military network, law enforcement officers face situations unlike other professions. Officers constantly assess situations by determining the credibility and potential threat of people they encounter. In a 2012 publication, researchers Juha Kaarianen and Reino Siren noted how this practice can slip into other interactions: "The suspicious, cynical attitude of the police towards citizens is a natural consequence of their constant interactions with dangerous unreliable individuals." The cynical mind begins to diminish trust and drives constant assessment of others. Whether on- or off-duty, constant questions linger in an officer's mind: Can you trust that the person approaching you is going to simply walk by without attempting to harm you? Can you trust that the figure walking down a residential sidewalk is not looking for an easy target to attack or the next home to burglarize? A cynical mind may seem like a negative facet of police life, but the ability to carefully assess situations and react accordingly is a sign of a seasoned and well-trained officer.

Whether you are a sworn law enforcement officer, EMS professional, corrections officer, or firefighter, being an effective public safety professional requires strong relationships with the public, the media, and each other. As high-profile incidents often bring to light, building and fostering these relationships is a challenge that requires constant attention by even the most congenial professionals. Thankfully, a body of psychological research around intergroup biases can explain not only why this tension between first responders, the public, and the media occurs, but how it can be overcome.

For years, Tasers and stun guns have been used by law enforcement as a way to apprehend individuals without using excessive violence. Though they are used by more than 15,000 agencies across the U.S., these tools do not come without controversy.

Allan Friedman, Austen Mack-Crane and Ross Hammond say they developed a preliminary model to look at the long-term consequences of data theft on diverse economic sectors. Their approach depends on treating cyber theft not as a problem of stolen assets worth an intrinsic value, but as one of diminished future growth. When so framed, the effect that stolen data has on companies within a sector--the ones the preliminary model investigates are the chemical, pharmaceutical, financial, consumer mobile phone and semi-conductor industry--depends on what type of data is stolen and the competitive nature of those sectors.

Are these 'expert' users at higher risk because of a false sense of security, or because they are naturally curious and therefore more risk-tolerant? Two Polytechnique academics apply clinical trial method to the design of a first-of-its-kind study on computer security.

Technology makes tasks exponentially easier and opens up opportunities to people around the world. However, innovation brings with it new areas of weakness. Data breaches or computer viruses can threaten any networked device, from a personal smartphone to enterprise server farms. This presents a major risk to organizations, as adoption of new technology can leave them susceptible to hackers.

There is no scientific evidence that hot weather causes crime, but experts have found strong correlations between rising temperatures and more frequent violent crime. To keep the public safe, officers must be aware of this relationship and anticipate how resource availability and workload may change in the future.

Canines play an important role in emergency response by assisting with search-and-rescue operations. Dogs employ superior senses to track down victims and reach locations that may be inaccessible for humans. Veterinary Partner noted that rescue teams need more trained dogs-and-handler pairs to share duties during emergencies and improve victims' chances for survival. Before they can be sent into the field, dogs must undergo standard search-and-rescue training. According to the National Association for Search & Rescue, it typically takes about one year of training for dogs to be ready to complete missions with their handlers. That shared experience can pave the way for both parties to quickly adopt new methods and equipment.

The use of force constitutes a seizure under the Fourth Amendment. It is analyzed by courts under an objective reasonableness test: the amount of force used in any police encounter must be reasonable in relation to the risks presented. Deadly force is acceptable only if an officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious injury to the officer or others. When an officer exceeds these bounds, supervisors and departments may be subject to liability. Use of force occurs in a relatively small number of interactions between the police and public, but the potential costs in terms of dollars, reputations and lives demand that resources be allocated toward its management. Through standards, education and technology, departments can effectively and proactively limit their exposure to these costs.