Public Safety and Law Enforcement (B-3)

Description

“Understand, our police officers put their lives on the line for us every single day. They’ve got a tough job to do to maintain public safety and hold accountable those who break the law."

U.S. 44th President Barack Obama

Police officers, firefighters, and other public safety and law enforcement officers provide necessary services to the community and their work deeply connects them to the people they serve. Quite often, these professionals put their own safety in jeopardy to guard the safety and well-being of citizens, to protect their private property, and to guard vital institutions.

Public safety and law enforcement organizations include emergency management agencies, fire departments, rescue services, emergency medical technicians, departments of motor vehicles who administer driver’s licenses and conduct vehicle inspections, and animal control units. Employees of these organizations come face to face with the daily conflicts and crimes that occur on the streets of our cities and neighborhoods. These vary from littering and noise pollution to property damage, trespassing, burglary, domestic violence and other forms of improper social behavior. In the United States, The Department of Homeland Security is the federal agency responsible for public safety and for federal emergency services rendered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA works proactively to mitigate the impact of disasters such as earthquakes, floods and hurricanes.

Public safety and law enforcement officers play an important role during natural and manmade disasters to save lives and support the stabilization of communities in difficult times when people are suffering from personal injury, or the loss of their relatives, homes and other valued possessions. Preparedness is an important aspect of their training. This enabled them to respond quickly and efficiently and to provide well-coordinated and effective incident support and disaster relief.

In the additional resources section to the right is a collection of related public service narratives "Ask me why I care,"under "Tell your story." They were curated by the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Public Affairs and Community Service in a Public Service Stories Project. Project Co-Directors are Dr. Mary Hamilton and Ms. Rita Paskowitz. The collection includes videos and Suggested Assignments for Students.

Collection Items

Policeman in the 19th century
"Law enforcement officers are never 'off duty.' They are dedicated public servants who are sworn to protect public safety at any time and place that the peace is threatened - Barbara Boxer In the nineteenth-century United States, police forces…

Arthur Woods, New York Police Commissioner
When Arthur Woods was a journalist, his articles about the local police caught their interest, and they soon recruited him as a Deputy. He believed in not only educating officers, such as encouraging them to be taught classes on law, sociology, and…

In Unity, September 11th
When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work. Chief Edward F. Crocker, FDNY, 1908 Jay Jonas, FDNY Battalion Chief:  "I try to put it in historical perspective for…

History of Civic Services in the City of New York Police No. 1 : The Rattle Watch
Our Nation’s communities need your protection, and I find great comfort in your selflessness and bravery. Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. The first law-enforcement officer began to patrol the trails and paths of New York City when it was…a Dutch…

Chiefs of Police, New York City
The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police was organized on November 30, 1901, in Rochester, New York and incorporated in 1957. It is a not for profit organization dedicated to serve the people of the State of New York in the maintenance of…

Battle Hymn Of The Republic
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe A song sheet to play the Battle Hymn Of The Republic. One of the most popular and patriotic songs in the U.S. history actually went through several changes before it was known…

Poster for Sweetheart's Ball at Alcatraz Penitenitiary
Alcatraz was more than just an island prison on the San Francisco Bay. Since the island was so far away from the mainland, the prison had facilities for all the officers that lived there. They raised families in their own houses, and had their own…

United States Park Police Officers
As one of the oldest uniformed federal law enforcement agencies in the United States, the United States Park Police, originally named the Park Watchmen, were established in 1791 under George Washington. While they functioned similarly to local…

Houston Mayor Lee Brown
Lee Patrick Brown started off as a police officer in California, but he would continue climbing up the ranks as he improved life around him. Serving from 1982 to 1990, he became the first African-American Police Chief to the City of Houston. It was…

Sheriff John McGraw
Law enforcement officers are never 'off duty.' They are dedicated public servants who are sworn to protect public safety at any time and place that the peace is threatened Barbara Boxer A portrait of John McGraw, a Washington sheriff who settled the…

Mayor Richard H. Sylvester, Washington, DC Chief of Police
Richard Sylvester implemented many police procedures that we still use today. He was the one to coin the ‘third degree’ phrase we commonly use today, as he divided police procedures as the arrest as the first degree, transportation to jail as the…

Blake Chow, Highest Ranking Chinese LAPD
From Officer to Sergeant, from Lieutenant to Captain, and then finally all the way to Commander, Blake Chow has deserved becoming the highest ranking Chinese-American police officer in the history of the Los Angeles Police Department. He proved he…

Police Officers at Risk
"• Total of 834,000 law enforcement officers (most employed at the municipal level)
• Since 1990, over 1,500 police officers have been killed in the line of duty (National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund)
• Average Death rate of 15 per 100,000, as…

Don't jaywalk. Watch your step.
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