Public Safety: Page 4

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    Permission granted by Oracle
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    Sponsored by Oracle

    Technologies transforming public safety

    Learn how modern public safety technology solutions are helping police and law enforcement serve, protect, and engage communities.

    By Shane Ruiz • Nov. 18, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    Are combination inspectors a good choice for municipalities?

    The inspection process can be streamlined by using multi-disciplined inspectors, allowing for a more efficient use of human resources, reducing the need for a large staff of specialized inspectors.

    By David Adcock • Nov. 13, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Community trust is a firefighter’s greatest asset

    Firefighters are society’s first line of defense against natural disasters. When catastrophes like wildfires, floods or earthquakes ensue, these professionals aren’t just tasked with preventing the disaster from spreading; they’re also responsible for keeping community members safe from harm and maintaining order under high-stress situations.

    By Robbi King • Nov. 5, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Is the public safety department model the future of municipal emergency service?

    The undeniable fiscal constraints associated with local governance has challenged contemporary public administrators to achieve more with less. Budgets are stretched thin, and local government managers face increasingly complex service delivery demands from an electorate that loathes the idea of paying higher taxes.

    By Dr. Randall Bauer • Oct. 30, 2024
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    FTA orders transit agencies to protect workers amid rising assaults

    “No American should go to work and worry they will not return home safely,” the Federal Transit Administration’s deputy administrator said. Agencies must respond by Dec. 26.

    By • Updated Nov. 12, 2024
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    Column

    Modernizing municipal IT infrastructure: A vital defense against cyber threats

    This summer, Flint, Mich., became the latest in a growing list of U.S. municipalities to fall victim to a ransomware attack. This incident, which took city services offline for weeks, is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities many local governments face in an increasingly hostile cyber landscape.

    By Andy Lin • Oct. 3, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    Advancements in police technology have fundamentally changed how departments operate

    Consider the technology that makes effective policing possible. Where would we be without the ability to conduct DNA testing—or even fingerprint suspects?

    By Dean Cunningham • Oct. 1, 2024
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    rarrarorro via Getty Images
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    2025’s top smart city conferences

    Smart city technology, housing, climate action, transportation, public safety and more take center stage at events in 2025.

    By • Updated June 27, 2025
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    Smarter, safer streets: How data and technology can save lives on U.S. roads

    In the years after the COVID-19 pandemic upended daily life, a disturbing trend emerged on America’s roads: driving became significantly more dangerous.

    By Lew Miller • Sept. 23, 2024
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    Chicago’s transit authority looks to AI-powered gun detection to help curb violent crime

    As part of a continuing effort to curb violent crime and enhance security for riders, the Chicago Transit Authority announced Aug. 29 it would begin utilizing an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered gun detection technology in some of its existing digital security cameras.

    By • Sept. 20, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    How to build awareness of flood risk and gain buy-in for flood control measures

    Floods are one of the most devastating events to strike a community—costly in terms of lives lost, damaged or destroyed homes, economic disruption, and damage to critical infrastructure. However, improvements in technology are helping local governments provide accurate assessments of flood risk, so steps can be taken to provide early and accurate warning of flood events, minimize potential losses, and improve outcomes and overall resilience after a flood occurs.

    By Katherine Osborne • Sept. 13, 2024
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    Courtesy of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
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    New York enacts panic-button law to counter crime in stores

    The bill signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, which requires a host of safety measures to address store-based crime, was opposed by key retail trade groups.

    By Daphne Howland • Sept. 9, 2024
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    wademcmillan via Getty Images
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    Homelessness response team heads to streets in Birmingham, Alabama

    As it does in some California and Texas cities, the organization Urban Alchemy will respond to certain nonemergency calls in Birmingham instead of the police.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 5, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    Charging Forward: Public sector EVs pose both challenges and opportunities for state agencies and their partners

    Across the country, state and local procurement teams are taking up the call to expand electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.

    By Steve Isaac • Aug. 29, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Violent crime fell 6% in major U.S. cities in the first half of 2024, survey finds

    Boston recorded a stunning 78% decline in homicides in the first half of 2024 compared with the first half of 2023, representing the largest plunge in murder rates among 69 U.S. cities, according to an Axios analysis of data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association, an independent organization of police executives.

    By • Aug. 21, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Flood monitoring product aims to make tracking flood damage more efficient

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.The amount...

    By • July 19, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    Rethinking the 85th percentile rule: Prioritizing safety over speed

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.One of the...

    By Wes Guckert, PTP • July 15, 2024
  • At ShotSpotter's Incident Review Center, three people sit in a row facing up to six computer monitors each, with keyboards and phones on the desks in front of them.
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    Courtesy of Shot Spotter
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    New York joins cities questioning ShotSpotter costs, benefits

    The gunshot detection system may waste NYPD resources, a June audit states, and existing data don’t support renewing the contract. Chicago and Houston are among the cities that plan to drop the technology.

    By David Silverberg • July 11, 2024
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    AerialPerspective Works via Getty Images
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    NYC Council approves legislation requiring proactive building inspections

    If signed into law, the bill would require the Department of Buildings to use predictive analytics to identify and address hazardous structures before they become dangerous.

    By Nish Amarnath • July 1, 2024
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    a12PE000000GzSiYAK via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Schneider Electric

    Extreme heat driving innovation in municipal heat resilience

    How city leaders are demanding proactive strategies for resilience and energy use.

    June 17, 2024
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    Brandon Bell / Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Uvalde families announce $2M settlement with city, additional lawsuits

    While the families of those killed in a 2022 mass shooting will not pursue further legal action against the city, their legal team said they are suing state-level officers and intend to sue the federal government.

    By Naaz Modan • May 24, 2024
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    Permission granted by Chattanooga Urbanist Society
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    Guerrilla urbanists are ‘doing it our damn selves’

    Some people decide to install bus stop benches, crosswalks and bike lanes without official approval. Experts say it’s an opportunity for cities to engage with the community.

    By Adina Solomon • May 23, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    Can vehicle speed and student safety ever be compatible?

    Can vehicle speed and student safety ever be compatible?

    By Wes Guckert, PTP • May 13, 2024
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    Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Are homeless encampment bans ‘cruel and unusual?’

    The Supreme Court begins to examine laws that restrict camping even when no shelter space is available as advocates for the homeless and city officials weigh in.

    By Danielle McLean • April 22, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    For the public sector, security and compliance are just good business

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.State and ...

    By Neil Steinhardt • April 17, 2024