CBP in California Warns: Fireworks Prohibited

San Diego – As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials want to warn cross-border travelers that importing fireworks from Mexico into California is prohibited.

CBP officers remain vigilant at California ports of entry to ensure that these dangerous and illegal products do not enter San Diego County where fire danger will increase during the summer months.

“Many travelers do not understand that it is illegal to import these dangerous devices,” said Chris Maston, Director of Field Operations for CBP in San Diego. “Imported fireworks can be dangerous because of the fire hazard and irregularities in manufacturing. Each year, our officers confiscate hundreds of fireworks and turn them over to the San Diego Fire and Rescue Department bomb squad for disposal.”

Some border travelers may be tempted to purchase fireworks in Mexico during the days leading up to Fourth of July celebrations.

“When travelers arrive at the border with fireworks and properly declare them, CBP is required to confiscate the merchandise, but without penalty. Those who try to circumvent the law by failing to declare the merchandise face stiff monetary penalties.” Maston said. “We are warning residents so they can avoid the risk of possible injury as well as the financial loss caused by confiscation of the fireworks, in addition to possible civil or criminal penalties."

Travelers who attempt to smuggle illegal fireworks into the country face penalties ranging from confiscation of the contraband to seizure of the transporting vehicle and monetary fines equal to the U.S. dollar value of the fireworks. In addition, arrest and prosecution are possible in the more egregious cases.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Off-Duty Agent Saves Driver from Burning Vehicle

Tucson, Ariz. - An off-duty Border Patrol agent assisted with a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 19 on Saturday, saving the life of a driver whose vehicle was on fire.

While driving Saturday afternoon, the off-duty Nogales station agent observed a two-vehicle accident on I-19 and stopped to render assistance. As the agent approached the scene, he noticed one of the vehicles was on fire with the driver trapped inside.

Two bystanders were trying to break the passenger window with a fire extinguisher in an attempt to rescue the driver from the smoke filled vehicle. As they continued trying to get the window open, the agent noticed that the driver’s hair was beginning to burn. The agent fired his service firearm into the passenger window, breaking the glass, which allowed him to open the passenger door and pull the driver to safety, saving her life. Subsequently, a few seconds after extracting the driver, the car became fully engulfed in flames.

Border Patrol agents are extremely dedicated to saving lives, even off duty. The Border Patrol is an agency that responds to all types of threats with agents who are highly trained. Fortunately, the agent was in the area and everyone was able to leave the scene safely.

The Border Patrol welcomes assistance from the community. Report suspicious activity by calling toll free 1-877-872-7435. All calls will be answered and will remain anonymous.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Combustible Dust: The Threat to First Responders

On December 19, 2008, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with John Astad and Bob LaPlante on preventing and mitigating fire and explosion from combustible dust. According to OSHA, “any combustible material (and some materials normally considered noncombustible) can burn rapidly when in a finely divided form. If such a dust is suspended in air in the right concentration, it can become explosive.

The force from such an explosion can cause employee deaths, injuries, and destruction of entire buildings. Such incidents have killed scores of employees and injured hundreds over the past few decades.” As an example, “In January 2003, devastating fires and explosions destroyed a North Carolina pharmaceutical plant that manufactured rubber drug-delivery components. Six employees were killed and 38 people, including two firefighters, were injured. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), an independent Federal agency charged with investigating chemical incidents, issued a final report concluding that an accumulation of a combustible polyethylene dust above the suspended ceilings fueled the explosion. The explosion severely damaged the plant and caused minor damage to nearby businesses, a home, and a school.”

Program Date: December 19, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Combustible Dust: The Threat to First Responders
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/12/20/Combustible-Dust-The-Threat-to-First-Responders

About the Guests
John Astad is Director and Research Analyst of the Combustible Dust Policy Institute. At the Institute, John tracks and researches combustible dust related fires and explosions. The results of this business intelligence data can be utilized by a myriad of stakeholders in the public and private sectors in developing cost effective strategies in assessing risk concerning combustible dust hazards in the workplace. John Astad holds a BS Business and Public Administration from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, with a major in Environmental Management.

Bob LaPlante is the General Manager at United Training Specialists (Phoenix, AZ). He has 29 years of power plant experience in Engineering, Fire Protection and Emergency Response Planning. His responsibility have included developing emergency response plans for power generating plants with regards to meeting OSHA, NFPA and DHS regulations and standards; and, developing emergency response power plant training, facility pre-plans, standard operating procedures and fire protection equipment maintenance and training programs for plant Emergency Response Team members. Bob LaPlante is a member of the NFPA, Edison Electric Institute’s Fire Committee, International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association and the Arizona Fire Training Association.

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, Criminal Justice technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/12/20/Combustible-Dust-The-Threat-to-First-Responders

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Public Safety Technology in the News May 1, 2008

IACP Issues Red Light Camera Systems Specifications
The Police Chief, (02/2008)

A performance standard has been created to help law enforcement agencies choose a red light camera system. Because of the increase in the number of agencies using red light cameras, the Enforcement Technologies Advisory Technical Subcommittee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Highway Safety Committee created a performance standard. The protocols and specifications laid out in the standard are meant to bolster the confidence of agencies, citizens, and courts in the precision and consistency of the camera systems. To obtain the standard, Red Light Camera Systems Minimum Performance Specifications, visit the IACP website www.theiacp.org/profassist/redlight.htm. IACP also maintains a conforming product list that lists systems that have been tested and found to comply with the specifications. www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=1423&issue_id=22008

License Plate Recognition Systems Extend the Reach of Patrol Officers
Government Technology, (04/09/2008), Jim McKay

In an area like the United Kingdom, where the number of cameras used for public safety surveillance has grown to more than 4 million and estimates are that citizens get their images captured more than 300 times in a day, license plate recognitions technology is a common tool for law enforcement. Initially, use in the United States was limited to toll plazas on the EZ Pass lanes to capture the license plates of motorists going through the lanes without the required RF transponder equipment. License plate recognition systems are now beginning to take hold in the United States for other purposes, and law enforcement agencies are seeing positive results. Of the 1,800 law enforcement agencies nationwide, 400 have at least one system, and because of the positive results and a drop in prices, more agencies will be able to purchase the technology. www.govtech.com/gt/articles/282014

Met Police Officers to be 'Microchipped' by Top Brass in Big Brother Style Tracking Scheme
The Daily Mail, (04/10/2008)

Met Police will replace the ailing Airwave radio system with a microchip system that will aid in the tracking and movement of the 31,000 officer force. The device, identified as Automated Personal Locations System (APLS) and provided by Telent, will allow dispatchers at the agency's operations center to identify officer locations, whether above or below ground, at any time during the officer's shift. Administrators indicate that the switch to this type of tracking is to improve officer safety and to help the agency be more efficient in responding to incidents. According to Telent, the system will be one of the largest globally, covering approximately 620 miles. www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=558597&in_page_id=1770

Bethlehem Is Ready to Implement Video System in Crime Areas
The Morning Call, (04/08/2008), Pamela Leham

A video showing three teens robbing a drunken man at 3 a.m. led to the teens being caught and prosecuted for the crime. Results like these have prompted the Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) police to acquire six pole-mounted camera systems for use throughout the city for special events and emergency situations. Mayor John Callahan believes these cameras are equal to a 24/7 police presence where the police officer has "a photographic memory" that can be admitted as evidence in court. Allentown, near Bethlehem, has 20 cameras and wants to increase the amount to 80, while Easton Housing Authority hopes to implement video surveillance for use with its Weed and Seed project. www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_4camera-r.6349385apr08,0,5186533.story

Ready for Your (Driving) Closeup?
Los Angeles Times, (04/14/2008), Steve Hymon

States like Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, and Washington have implemented the use of radar-activated speed enforcement cameras to catch speeders on highways. Now the Beverly Hills Police Department is again attempting to push for legislation that will allow the use of such cameras in California. Officials have been trying since 2006 with no luck, but the growing list of States using the technology may indicate that opposition is decreasing. For the Beverly Hills Police Department, the issue is that police patrol the busy areas and drivers take short cuts through residential areas at high rates of speed. Scottsdale (Arizona) has this problem and instituted the use of cameras, which resulted in a 9 mph decrease in speed. The legislation being pushed in California would implement a pilot mobile unit that could be used in school zones and residential areas where the posted limit is 25 mph. Also, with this pilot project motorists would be provided with ample signage ind! icating the camera system was in use. This past January, the Governors Highway Safety Association indicated that because budget cuts have reduced the number of officers available for speed enforcement, more cameras are needed to aid agencies. www.latimes.com/classified/automotive/highway1/la-me-speedcam14apr14,0,2295257.story

3-D Images - Cordless and Any Time
ScienceDaily, (04/21/2008)

The ability of law enforcement to capture 3-D evidence soon will no longer rely on plaster casts of impressions left at the scene; instead they will be able to rely on a new 3-D device that captures images rapidly. The device is compact and easy to use in any situation because it runs on batteries and requires no direct wiring. Instead it relies on a wireless local area network to transmit images to laptops at the scene. The system, developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF, uses two cameras and a projector that emits a pattern of stripes across the area. The geometry of the space can be inferred from the warp of the stripes. This type of technology is already available, but not in this compact configuration. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416114413.htm

USFA Highlights Lessons Learned From Minnesota Bridge Collapse
FireRescue1 News, (04/21/2008), Cristi Laquer

The development and release of a report about the August 2007 bridge collapse in Minnesota by the U.S. Fire Administration highlighted the high value of interoperability training. The report established both positive and negative aspects of the incident in an attempt to aid other departments that might face similar issues. The bridge collapse created multiple conditions that had to be considered by first responders, such as victims' locations, possible secondary collapse, and hazmat conditions, along with physical and jurisdictional restrictions. In spite of all of these difficulties, the multiple departments and agencies, as well as civilian support staff, responding to the event were able to effectively and efficiently overcome those obstacles because of joint training and well-developed working relationships. Problems cited in the report include that separate command posts were established, a unified command post was not established until late in the event, a safety of! ficer was not "formally" appointed, and the small size of the Emergency Operations Center. For the full report go to www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr_166.pdf. www.firerescue1.com/communications-interoperability/articles/397765-USFA-reports-lessons-learned-from-Minn-bridge-collapse/

Disaster Drill Simulates 'Dirty Bomb' Attack on Long Island
Staton Island Live, (04/26/2008), AP

In an attempt to ascertain the capabilities of authorities to respond to a radioactive event, more than 600 emergency responders participated in a simulated detonation of a "dirty bomb" by a biker gang in a Federal courthouse. The event was staged at the Yaphank fire academy over several days and involved staff from 60 agencies and 10 hospitals, with 100 people "injured" or "killed" in the fake event. Funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through a grant to Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency services, it was called the largest emergency simulation ever for Suffolk County. www.silive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-33/1209234258166600.xml&storylist=simetro

Airport Security From Chaos
ScienceDaily, (04/21/2008)

Random numbers present safety and security, according to a research project from the University of Southern California funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Software is used to capture information relating to routine, random vehicle, and canine searches conducted at an airport. Law enforcement officers input data relating to possible terrorist targets and their importance either daily or based on security violations or suspicious activity. Using mathematical algorithms, the software is able to calculate the chances for attacks on that particular airport and generate a random model for police to use in determining where to go and when. Because of the random nature of the model generated for police security, there is no pattern for terrorists to watch for and take advantage of in planning an attack. The Assistant for Randomized Monitoring and Routes (ARMOR) system has been tested for 6 months at Los Angeles International Airport and has been given the thumbs u! p to be used on a more permanent basis by airport officials. Even in the event terrorists were to acquire ARMOR, the likelihood of them being able to match the random monitoring of law enforcement is very low. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416161215.htm

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Protective Equipment for Law Enforcement

Attacks or accidents involving chemicals, biological agents, or radiation likely are the most dangerous a law enforcement officer could ever face. The protective equipment the officer relies upon in such incidents must meet the highest standards. The law enforcement community asked the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to develop a standard specifically for CBRN protective equipment used by law enforcement officers. The standard will focus on protective ensembles, which are designed to provide full-body protection against exposure to CBRN hazards. NIJ has been working particularly closely with the National Fire Protection Association and the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense to leverage related efforts where possible in order to expedite release of the new NIJ standard. When completed, the standard will be published by NIJ and available on the JUSTNET web site. For additional information regarding the standard, please visit www.justnet.org/testing/cbrn.html.