Federated ICAM Introduces New Capabilities for First Responders

Public safety agencies are seeking ways to reliably grant mission-critical information access to authorized users while also ensuring security and data integrity. Technical pilot projects sponsored by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency demonstrated cross-domain federated identity, credential and access management for secure information sharing for first responders in Texas and Tennessee.

The ability to dynamically manage access to information systems whether it involves data about drug overdoses, sensitive federal threats, criminal justice information, geographical information system (GIS) mapping, or physical access to a crime scene or response perimeter, is central to today’s public safety information technology environment. Identity, credential and access management (ICAM) is responsible for the governance, policies and technologies needed to make this happen…

Rescu Emergency Alert Launches Nationwide

Rescu Emergency Alert Launches Nationwide

SAN DIEGO (April 30, 2021) – Rescu, an emergency alert app that connects people directly to certified emergency dispatchers, launches today throughout the United States in partnership with over 30,000 local emergency agencies. Rescu is the first and only Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) in a non-hardware platform.

Unlike 9-1-1, the Rescu app does not require speaking to a dispatcher. With Rescu, users can communicate non-verbally to an emergency dispatcher. This means a user can silently send for help in Rescu’s mobile app interface if an intruder enters their home or a user can request an ambulance in the event of a medical emergency that hinders their ability to speak. Rescu is the most efficient way to get emergency help during an emergency…

Meet the Expert: Emergency Management Expert Bruce Fitzgerald Explores Advances in Technology and FirstNet

We recently spoke with Bruce about how technology has changed incident management and how FirstNet will support the continued advancement of tools and resources for public safety.

By First Responder Network Authority

Bruce Fitzgerald joined the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) after more than 15 years in public safety and crisis management. He began his career at the Maine Emergency Management Agency where he served in several roles including homeland security grant coordinator and the State Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director…

Emergency Response Dispatch, Analytics Startup RapidDeploy Raises $29M

Emergency Response Dispatch, Analytics Startup RapidDeploy Raises $29M

Firefighter gear
Photo: Shutterstock

One thing we learned as a child was to call 911 if there’s an emergency. If you’ve ever had to make the call, you know it can be nerve-racking. With approximately 240 million 911 calls made each year, there’s pressing demand for call centers to be ready to handle any situation at any time. One Austin startup is working to enhance 911 call centers across America by providing them with data and analytics.

RapidDeploy develops cloud-based emergency response dispatching and analytics platforms that shorten the total response time and improves safety for emergency personnel. Founded in 2013, RapidDeploy uses location mapping and real-time data from smartphones, smartwatches, home security systems, vehicles and traffic cameras to facilitate rapid and informed responses to calls…

They Have Your Six

They Have Your Six

No matter the agency, we all have the officer that complains that
we are picking on them. We all know it’s mainly because it’s in their beat or
sector or they are the closest unit. It’s also because we are too busy with pending calls to care if their
feelings are hurt. A few of us make these officers feel our wrath by sending
them from one side of town to the other, fielding every report under the sun.
How many of us are envisioning the officer we want to do that to?

Ultimately, we all want every one of our officers to go home, and
we all want to catch the bad guy and be the best dispatcher we can be for our
residents, right? …