Recent Gov1 News

• Wildfires are contaminating drinking water systems, and it's more widespread than people realize

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  A new study identifies critical issues that communities should consider after a wildfire

• Study: 80% of fatal e-scooter crashes involve cars

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  An in-depth study on e-scooter traffic safety reveals where and why most collisions occur

• Ga. governor signs bill banning 'defund the police' efforts into law

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  The bill bars cities and counties from reducing their law enforcement budgets by more than 5% in one year, or cumulatively across five years

• NC firefighters' union says 911 center staffing shortage causing response delays

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  The Durham union said it can take as long as 10 minutes for firefighters to be dispatched to a call

• Ransomware gangs get more aggressive against law enforcement agencies

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  “Every police department needs to think about their threat model and that they will probably be a target at some point"

• Struggling NC town votes to disband PD in favor of county sheriff's office

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  Town officials say a contract with the sheriff’s office will save them $1.3 million over three years

• Creating a partnership between law enforcement and mental health practitioners

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  A mental health professional acting as an on-scene consultant to police officers can reduce the likelihood of the situation escalating to violence

• Judge alters 'red flag' process after Indiana FedEx shooting

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  All "red flag" cases will now go straight to the judge instead of through the prosecutor's office

• Pa. city warns it will ask state for permission to stop responding to out-of-city EMS calls

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  Letters distributed to eight other municipalities said an "unfair burden" has been placed on the Warren Fire Department to respond outside the city

• As pandemic ebbs, an old fear is new again: mass shootings

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  Data shows there were two public mass shootings in 2020. This year there have been at least 11 so far

• Calif. city to launch EMT, counselor team to respond to mental health calls

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  Officials said Huntington Beach's HOPE program is meant to supplement the efforts of homeless liaison officers and expand access to mental health care

• States push back against use of facial recognition by police

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  “It's fear-mongering politics at its worst,” said Jonathan Thompson, CEO of the National Sheriffs’ Association

• 3 police-community engagement questions every law enforcement leader should ask in 2021

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  It is our responsibility as police leaders to constantly improve our interactions with the communities we serve

• Legislation to expand first responder disability, death benefits reintroduced in Congress

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  The Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021 would expand eligibility for benefits and address delays in processing claims

• Calif. city to pay $1.9 million to people injured during George Floyd protests

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  The settlement is the largest in the city's history involving a civil rights lawsuit and the Santa Rosa Police Department

• Small NJ town still without ambulance service 1 year after squad shut down

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  Shrewsbury Township currently relies on the New Jersey State Police to respond to its emergency calls

• LAPD says it needs $67M to complete protest response reforms

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  The plan also calls for a new $4 million bureau specifically to handle emergency responses

• Use-of-force cases prompt state debates over officer records

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  More than 20 states have considered bills this year to share disciplinary records of police officers, while about 20 states still largely prohibit their release

• Va. city opioid program partners EMS, law enforcement, local psychiatry center

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  "The First Step Program" will offer individuals an opportunity to get help without the fear of arrest or having to worry about a lack of health insurance

• Calif. county to establish fire department diversity program

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  The program would focus on recruiting people of color and women to become firefighter-paramedics and supporting them financially while they complete the academic work necessary to qualify

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