• Technology helps Jersey police fight crime in real-time

    In the last decade massive technological breakthroughs have made information more accessible than ever before and law enforcement agencies are increasingly taking advantage of new mobile technology to help fight crime

  • Key to disaster preparedness is “training, training, training”

    Bonnie S. Michelman, CPP/CHPA, the director of police, security, and outside services at Massachusetts General Hospital, recently took the time to speak with Homeland Security NewsWire’s executive editor Eugene K. Chow; in their interview, Michelman highlights the recent technological security measures Massachusetts General has installed, finding the right balance between security and openness, and preventing terrorists from stealing the low-grade radioactive materials that are housed in hospitals

  • Water rescues prove dangerous for first responders

    Water rescues are particularly dangerous for first responders, and the recent attempt to rescue a man who jumped from a bridge over the Oswego River in New York last month proved to be no exception

  • Terrorists using sophisticated uni-directional bombs

    Terrorists have learned to develop increasingly sophisticated explosives as evidenced by the uni-directional bombs detonated last week in Karachi, Pakistan that killed three Pakistan Rangers and injured several others

  • FBI opens new forensics lab for local law agencies in New Mexico

    Thanks to a sophisticated new FBI forensics laboratory at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, local police now have access to cutting edge technology that can help streamline investigations

  • Special kits help protect police K-9s

    To help keep police canines safe while on duty, the Police & Working K-9 Foundation has teamed up with private and public companies to hold “Cover Your K-9,” an innovative series of technology and training seminars

  • Grant helps Kentucky dive team operate without sight

    Rescue and recovery divers often struggle to perform their duties in murky, muddy waters, but thanks to a $21,000 grant from Kentucky’s Homeland Security department, the city of Grayson was able to purchase a side-scan sonar and an underwater metal detector to help rescue divers complete their mission in low visibility conditions

  • Research may yield more compact antennas for military use

    Researchers say that the tall, bulky antennas the U.S. military uses could be scrapped for low-profile, broadband antennas — thanks to a different approach to antenna design that replaces large dipole antennas with a more compact and conformal multi-mode radiator

  • New material increases weapons' explosive force

    A new material, called High-Density Reactive Material (HDRM), is designed to replace steel in warhead casings with little or no compromise in strength or design

  • New sensor system tracks, locate firefighters where GPS fails

    With support from the National Science Foundation, electrical engineers are developing a portable device called the Sentrix Tracking Unit; it straps on like a belt and consists of a suite of sensors; the sensors help locates missing firefighters— saving time and maybe lives

  • First responders learn how to deal with electric cars

    With the growing number of electric vehicles on the road, first responders are now faced with a new type of vehicle that they know little about, which could be potentially dangerous in the event of a fatal crash; to help emergency responders learn about the new technology on the road today, Tesla, a manufacturer of electric vehicles, recently held a training seminar at one of its locations in California

  • Research centre to combat devastating effects of roadside bombs

    Gaining a better understanding of the injuries caused by roadside bombs and improving both treatment and the means of protection are key aims of a new £8 million research center launched the other day; designing “intelligent” combat boots to deflect the impact of a roadside bomb and diagnosing damage more quickly in the injured to reduce future medical problems are two potential benefits

  • Disaster evacuation plans need to incorporate family perspectives

    A recent study sponsored by the National Science Foundation found that most respondents felt the evacuation of New Orleans residents to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina was a “failure” and this opinion has shaped their willingness to accept shelter if offered in an emergency evacuation

  • Why law enforcement officers should earn a degree in homeland security

    In a guest column, Dennis Porter, a former law enforcement officer with more than thirty years of experience, argues that it is critical for U.S. national security that members of the law enforcement community return to school to obtain degrees in homeland security; with counterterrorism becoming an increasingly more crucial duty for law enforcement officers, it is imperative that they have the skills and knowledge to effectively combat extremism

  • Emergency response for the disabled

    Roughly 56 million Americans have a disability and with many living without a telephone or television, communicating with them in the event of a major disaster is no easy task; to address the needs of disabled Americans during natural and manmade disasters, emergency officials recently participated in a seminar called “Planning for the Whole Community”