No Nation-Wide Union Rights for First Responders…Not Yet

A bill seeking to allow most first responders in the US to unionize was stopped in the Senate earlier this month. Republicans complained that not enough time was allowed for their amendments and Majority Leader Reid said that he couldn’t come up with the support to force a vote. Republican Enzi and Democrat Kennedy were to work on an agreement over the bill but recent events concerning Kennedy’s health are likely to further stall the agreement.

Peace Officers Memorial Day

Whereas the police officers of America have worked devotedly and selflessly in behalf of the people of this Nation, regardless of the peril or hazard to themselves; and
Whereas these officers have safeguarded the lives and property of their fellow Americans; and
Whereas by the enforcement of our laws, these same officers have given our country internal freedom from fear of the violence and civil disorder that is presently affecting other nations;
Whereas these men and women by their patriotic service and their dedicated efforts have earned the gratitude of the Republic:
*

In the US today is Peace Officers Memorial Day; this week is National Police Week. Let's take a moment to remember the officers that fell in the line of duty last - one of the deadliest years for police officers in almost twenty years.

Tasers For Every Bobby

After a year's testing it seems likely that all British cops will soon be carrying tasers.

The tests were carried out by ten forces in Britain and Wales and demonstrated their effectiveness in law enforcement. In some cases the tasers didn't even have to be fired to be effective in defusing certain situations.

With an announcement expected later today establishing the universal use of tasers, the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, said "I am committed to giving our police officers the weapons they need. If the trial shows the Taser to be a valuable tool, I can envisage a day when they could be routinely issued to all officers."

May 5, 2008 Headlines

Here are a few headlines that caught my eye today:

Testing Tasers in Canadian Law
You probably remember the death of Dziekanski, the Polish traveler who died after being taser by police in a Canadian airport. Not long after the incident a video of it made its way to YouTube where many have watched the unfortunate incident. Now the man's mother is pushing to link her son's death directly to the taser.

High Tech Cop Cars
A thoughtful peice that looks at the latest gadgets available for cop cars vs. getting out of the car and doing some real police work.

Saddle Up!
Frankfort Il, a village that boasts a quaint 1890's look, is considering putting horses under some of their police men and women.

US Cop Tech in China
Did some US companies violate the law by selling law enforcement technology to Chinese police forces? After Tiananmen Square in 1989 Congress passed a law that specifically prohibits “the export to the People’s Republic of China of any crime control or detection instruments or equipment.”