911 response times are up... Is this the solution? 🤔
We also discuss COVID-19 Passports, the only travel bag you'll need, and how to stay safe on your upcoming trip.
The Community Responder Model
Would you want to call 911 and have your non-law-enforcement neighbor show up? 🤔Not only are many advocating this, but in some parts of the country, it’s been happening for 30 years.
“The Community Responder Model” proposes the idea that not every 911 call requires an armed officer. The model suggests that many situations would be better suited to send an unarmed mental health expert, rather than traditional law enforcement. Below is a chart estimating the percentage of 911 calls that could be managed by non-police responders.
Other cities are discussing a middle-ground approach or “co-responder models”. In a co-responder model, police officers are paired with mental health experts. This theoretically provides the best of both worlds. Someone who is trained to de-escalate non-life-threatening situations and an armed officer just in case things do get out of hand.
Eugene Oregon has had a similar program put into place since 1989. Unarmed community responders had to call for police backup just 150 out of 24,000 calls in 2019.
The scope of police intervention has expanded over the decades. Today local police officers respond to everything from noise complaints, robberies, school children incidents, and mental instability de-escalation.
Many questions still loom regarding the scaling of such programs:
🍽Could Community Responder programs help take some responsibilities off of law enforcement’s plate?
🤔Could they help prevent lethal escalation with mentally unstable individuals?
🚔Will “Community Responders” be given the same respect as authorities without the ability to make arrests?
We may soon find out the answers to these questions.
The other side: Vaccine Passports 💉
As the vaccine rollout continues; governments, schools, businesses, and other organizations must develop a reopening strategy. This has divided many people on the ethical, constitutional, and societal implications of so-called “Vaccine Passports”. Many argue that they are essential to returning to a safe society, while others argue it's a slippery slope to dystopian government overreach.
The Biden administration has kept relatively quiet on the matter. New York has led the vaccine verification charge with their “Excelsior Pass” mobile application. While Florida’s governor banned the use of covid-19 passports in his state via executive order.
Below is how two competing news networks are covering the controversy. Both appear to be heavily armed with bald men:
Whose side are you on?
What and Why 🤷♀️
What: Guard Dog Proshield II 🎒
The Prosheild II is a lightweight, durable, multi-functional bag with hands-free music entertainment capabilities. Did we mention it's also bulletproof? You wouldn't be able to tell while wearing this 4-ounce bag, but it's Level IIIA bulletproof tested.
Why: Travel is on the rise 🧳
This past weekend saw an 800% increase in travel compared to last year. All these trips are going to require bags! Skip the traditional sacks and go for Level IIIA tested safety with the Prosheild II instead.
Travel Safety Tips ✈
You don’t want to be one of the millions of people per year who are a victim of a crime on vacation. Here are some Travel Safety Tips to help your trip be a smooth one:
💵 Keep your money in multiple locations. The saying “Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket has been around for a while for a reason.
🤳 Don’t use your phone in highly populated areas. Instead, stay alert of your surroundings.
📡 A GPS tracking device such as the Tile Mate will help you track down your luggage in the case that it’s lost.
👨👧👧 Notify a friend or family member about the specific dates, times, and locations of your trip. In the event you go missing, this information can be vital to an investigation about your whereabouts.
🔒 Keep your bags secure with a biometric lock. Fingerprint security is a great obstacle to put between your valuables and thieves