COPS Office Video Series "What's New in Blue"

The U.S. DOJ's COPS Office was established in 1994 to help advance community policing. COPS stands for Community Oriented Policing Services. Community policing aims to build trust and constructive relationships among all community members to most effectively support public safety.

The COPS Office has just come out with a new video series called What’s New in Blue. The first episode of season one features Dr. Jon Sheinberg, a police officer as well as a Cardiologist. According to Dr. Sheinberg, coronary disease is the number one cause of death for police officers. Officers also have a 22-year lower life expectancy than the rest of the population. Their average life expectancy is 57 years old; this is also the average retirement age for a police officer.

Law enforcement officers are often subject to extreme circumstances that can impact their physical and mental states, generating lingering effects that may endure for hours or more afterwards. Dr. Sheinberg compares a police officer's work environment to that of a fighter pilot's: 98% boredom and 2% terror.

Dr. Sheinberg recommends two simple tests for the early detection of coronary disease: a coronary calcium score and a blood test called phospholipase A2 (or PLA-2). These tests can help detect inflammation and potential blockages. The early detection of coronary disease offers the greatest opportunity for effective treatment, though treatment at any time is a step in the right direction. Dr. Sheinberg also reviews a three-prong strategy to help promote the highest levels of health; these are medicine, life-style changes, and the replenishing of missing nutrients.

We have so much to be grateful for thanks to the dedicated commitment of these front-line public servants. Securing appropriate health interventions and discussing such important matters is a welcome conversation.

The COPS Office recently announced the launch of the video series, What’s New in Blue. The episodes feature informative discussions about ideas worth spreading throughout American #policing: https://t.co/bHThOBoro1 #WNIB pic.twitter.com/1bhlTouVaU

— COPS Office (@COPSOffice) December 18, 2018

CLOUD Act

The CLOUD Act (H.R. 4943) was passed into law on March 23, 2018 as section 105 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (H.R. 1625, passed as PL 115-141), an omnibus spending bill. The CLOUD Act is an acronym for Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act.

The CLOUD Act amends the Stored Communications Act (SCA) of 1986 and allows federal law enforcement to compel US companies to provide data requested by a warrant or subpoena whether the data is stored in the US or on foreign soil.

The law was introduced after Microsoft refused to comply with a FBI SCA warrant for email data stored on one of its servers in Ireland for a drug trafficking investigation. The refusal led to the Supreme Court case Microsoft Corp. v. United States. The challenge identified that if a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) is not in place, cross-border data discovery can be slowed and impede law enforcement efforts. The Supreme Court case was vacated when the DoJ was able to secure a new warrant under the CLOUD Act, rendering the original case moot.

The CLOUD Act asserts that U.S. companies must provide data on U.S. citizens on any of their servers when requested by a warrant. It also provides an expedited route to MLATs through "executive agreements."

"Why the CLOUD Act is Good for Privacy and Human Rights," by Jennifer Daskal and Peter Swire https://t.co/tEDGNnZ1pA

— Lawfare (@lawfareblog) March 14, 2018

Three “tectonic themes” before #SCOTUS in US v. Microsoft case – court-made internet policy, privacy on the internet and state sovereignty -- @andrewkwoods of @universityofky breaks down these issues in our latest post https://t.co/ViDZbPMeTO

— SCOTUSblog (@SCOTUSblog) February 8, 2018

LEO Mental Health and Wellness Act

H.R. 2228 the “Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act of 2017” was signed into law January 10, 2018.

Our courageous #policeofficers will now get better access to the care they deserve w/#HR2228, the Law Enforcement Mental Health & Wellness Act of 2017. Read more >> https://t.co/5hSLMyuUwV

— Susan W. Brooks (@SusanWBrooks) November 29, 2017

“Researchers and #LawEnforcement have begun to explore another groundbreaking initiative to combat officer stress and build resiliency: the practice of #mindfulness.” Learn more in the #CPDispatch: https://t.co/3l15p4roQ5 pic.twitter.com/eWmtRxsGEZ

— COPS Office (@COPSOffice) December 19, 2017