Our nation’s first responders—including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services (EMS) providers—are increasingly likely to encounter fentanyl and other synthetic opioids during the course of their daily activities, such as responding to overdose calls and conducting traffic stops, arrests, and searches.

To help first responders protect themselves when the presence of fentanyl is suspected or encountered, a Federal Interagency Working Group coordinated by the White House National Security Council developed a resource titled Fentanyl Safety Recommendations for First Responders. 

Informed by expertise from the medical, public health, law enforcement, fire/EMS, and occupational safety and health disciplines, and developed in collaboration with 24 other stakeholder associations and organizations, these science-based recommendations include the following:

• Actions first responders can take to protect themselves from exposure
• Actions first responders can take when exposure occurs
• Actions first responders can take when they or their partners exhibit signs of intoxication

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) collaborated with the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) to conduct a survey of MCCA member agencies to develop a better understanding of oversight programs in their various forms, how they have evolved over time, and the challenges to implementing them.  Since the 1950s, when civilian oversight was first implemented in some American police departments, its use has grown and a variety of new forms have developed.  Established to improve community relations, enhance transparency, and increase accountability, all of these programs have the ultimate goal of improving the quality of local policing and thereby increasing public safety.

This publication discusses the results of that survey and the outcome of the roundtable held to discuss it, providing an overview of civilian oversight in major city police agencies.

The Strategies for Policing Innovation (SPI) program is a collaborative effort among the Bureau of Justice Assistance, CNA, state and local law enforcement agencies, and researchers.  SPI will present a webinar titled “Practical Approaches to Sustaining Innovative Policing Initiatives.” This online, interactive seminar will engage the law enforcement community, along with state and local government officials, on how SPI sites are planning and sustaining innovative initiatives. Participants will gain a better understanding of the importance of thinking and planning for program sustainment from the beginning of the project as well as hear from SPI sites that are in various phases of project implementation and sustainment.

Date:  Thursday, September 13, 2018

Time:  2:00 p.m., ET

Sponsored by the Office for Victims of Crime, Training and Technical Assistance Center, this webinar will discuss steps to execute a response plan, including what to expect during response committee meetings, communication strategies, factors to consider when setting up a Family Assistance Center, challenges with victim identification and death notifications, and key elements of volunteer and donation management.

Date:  Thursday, September 13, 2018

Time:  1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., ET

This webinar, sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, will focus on the importance of leveraging multijurisdictional criminal justice partnerships. It will also explore how to gain and sustain agency support of the task force’s mission.  The discussion will include best practices for hiring and training task force personnel and how to identify the type of experts who should be sought when developing a violent gang task force.  In addition, ways to identify major violent street gangs and how to target specific community needs in combating gang violence will be discussed.

Date:  Monday, September 17, 2018

Time:  2:00 p.m., ET