PSAD 302 UMGC Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Public Safety Essay

Assignment Three 

In keeping with our learning outcomes and our recent readings, consider a contemporary force that appears likely to bear on the future development of the public safety discipline you’re in or plan to pursue.  Examples of such forces may be things like social forces, technological forces, or some other force poised to have a lasting impact on public safety. 

Write a paper on the likely impact the force will have on Public Safety. 

Your paper must include the following:

Introduction: To the extent that you can, describe how force came to develop in general and how it came to be a force likely to have lasting impact on public safety.  Consider what has driven the development of the force. 

The current and projected long-term impact of the force on public safety. 

The impact of the force on the management of public safety. 

Conclusion

Readings week 7:

PDF – Mental health and substance abuse issues among first responders

Research suggests that 30 percent of first responders will develop behavioral health conditions—that’s greater than the occurrence rates in the general population.  In addition, at least one study found that the rate of suicide attempts and ideations is higher in fireman.  Finally, it’s been suggested that between 125 and 300 police officers commit suicide every year. This twelve-page 2018 Supplemental Research Bulletin by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service discusses the current literature on mental health issues impacting first responders and offers evidence-based methods to positively impact this very concerning aspect of the public safety profession. 

PDF – Pre-incident Training to Build Resilience in First Responders: Recommendations on What to and What Not to Do

This ten-page article published in 2020 in the journal Psychiatry, Interpersonal and Biological Processes is a fascinating look at what pre-incident interventions are most likely to have a positive impact on post-incident mental health outcomes among public safety personnel.  The article offers evidence to support the efficacy of some commonly understood interventions like physical exercise while also pointing out that there is little evidence that other popular practices like mental health training produce significant positive post-incident mental health benefits to public safety employees. 

PDF – The Value of Worker Well-Being

This very short “Surgeon General’s Perspective” from 2019 provides some very interesting information on workers’ health and wellbeing.  The article provides basic information on workers’ health, which entities are responsible for protecting the health and safety of workers, and what work-based wellness plans are most effective. 

How police leadership can respond to officer mental health crises

This short article published in Police1 in 2020 provided some discipline specific guidance for dealing with mental health concerns in public safety.  Despite its discipline specific perspective, many of the principles discussed are universal in public safety.

9-1-1 emergency: Battling stress in the communications center– subtle shifts in thinking add up to big results, offering greater levels of resilience to draw from during challenging times

This short article in Police1 from late 2020 looks at job-related mental health issues from the perspective of emergency dispatchers.  Despite the discipline specific perspective, much of the information can easily be related to all public safety personnel.

The Culture of Mental Health in Fire and EMS

This is a very short article published in 2018 in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services discussing mental health among public safety professionals from the perspective of fire and EMS personnel.

Readings week 8:

Technology and police operations

This is a very short article published in Police Foundation in 2018 by Nola Joyce, former deputy commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department.  In addition to giving readers a brief description of technologies impacting 21st century policing, Ms. Nola discusses the importance of recognizing civil liberties and digital ethics concerns when law enforcement utilizes technology.

Tech in 2020: How the fire service leveled up its technology game

This six-page article from December 202 on Fire1 briefly discusses up and coming technological innovation that may impact the fire service.   The article discusses innovations in drones, wildfire mapping, electric vehicles, virtual reality, robots, and infectious disease prevention.

Chula Vista PD Groundbreaking UAV operations (Pod Cast)

The Chula Vista Police Department implemented a program which allowed for rapid deployment of drones citywide, for immediate response to calls for service.  This allowed for information gathering and forward operations to first responders prior to entering various calls for service.  Chula Vista has over 4300 drone missions utilized throughout the city.

Fire and Emergency Services incorporation

Fire Chief Otto Drozd III speaks about the application of drone technology in search and rescue efforts, along with pre-deployment mapping of areas for training exercises within different divisions.  Chief Drozd continues identifying utilization of air monitoring and hazmat applications where traditional human assets would have been exposed to potential harm.

Forest Fire Management

Looking at areas of forest fire management, drone applications are being deployed for LiDAR mapping of areas affected during these events.  Further research is being conducted to incorporate data on fire severity and ecological impact.  Please review the following article to gain further insight into this application of UAV technology.

AED on the Fly Program

The following article by Laura French, examines a test pilot program in Canada, where the development of AED deployment via drone is expanding.  The ability to deploy such devices, along with interactive instruction through the UAV, is showing tremendous potential for a larger scale system.  The phase 3 section looks specifically at the application to rural areas.