Public Safety Case Analysis Project

It will be impossible to imagine our life without public safety agencies. They have been deeply integrated in our life. Now it is essential that such services and agencies provide all the necessary help in the scrutinized situations. What are actually public safety agencies? They are called to protect society in different complicated situations and assist in certain row of problems. “Public safety agencies, whether operating at a national, regional or local level, are under intense pressure to deliver visible, optimal and measurable results without an increase in budget or headcount. Accenture helps public safety agencies meet these demands with highly transparent and accountable services that deliver maximum public value. Safeguarding public safety calls for an integrated approach that transcends agency boundaries. We work with governments worldwide to develop operational strategies and technology infrastructures that allow communication and collaboration between law enforcement, criminal justice and safety agencies. We offer innovative technology and services that enhance the ability of public safety agencies to work autonomously, and or in partnership with other agencies, and create the synergies needed to respond effectively to the challenges of a multi-polar world”(Accenture, 2009). The United States of America is the country, which pays lots of attention to the question of public safety. That is why it is not surprising that in every state you will be able to find a number of agencies, which protect and ensure, society in scrutinized situations and statements. Special attention is devoted to health care and emergency public safety agencies.

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is the public safety agency which aim is assisting to people in scrutinized situations: “The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made” (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2009). This particular public safety agency deals with Department of Public Safety and has appropriate field of activity:

1. Building collapse/failure
2. Elevators/escalators
3. Boiler or air tank failure/explosion
4. Amusement or tramway incidents
5. Horse carriage incidents
6. Incidents involving hoisting and excavating equipment (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2009).

The inner structure of Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency has great deal with planning and training departments. In the management structure of this particular public service agency these two departs play significant role: “Management of the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) activities; planning, training, grant management, and SERC sub-committees is the responsibility of the MEMA Hazardous Materials Coordinator within the Planning Department” (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2009). The planning department connects to the different organizations, providing management planning for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency: “The Planning Department works with municipal, state, federal, and volunteer organizations on a variety of emergency management planning issues. The Planning Department assists communities in the development and maintenance of their Comprehensive Emergency Plans (CEMP), addressing mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery from natural and technological emergencies. The Planning Department also maintains the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The State CEMP is utilized by MEMA to manage multi-agency state response to large-scale emergencies. The State CEMP provides linkage to the Federal Response Plan for requesting federal disaster assistance. Finally, the Planning Department supports planning for hazard-specific events such as major aircraft accidents, debris management, terrorism, donations management and other topic”. It is essential that planning aspect is one of the most important for the management of public safety agency. Being prepared for scrutinized situations Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency deals with other organizations getting the latest information. It would help to plan the general ideas of preparation for the event and appropriate corrections and get everything well organized, for example, preparing for winter weather. A suitable plan should be developed and appropriate corrections could be included in the case something would change abruptly. Dealing with different public organizations and analyzing the correction undertaken during the realization of the plan, would help to avoid the same mistakes in future. It also helps to collect statistical data and develop whole strategy for further projects and provide appropriate planning.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency also provides a number of trainings, conferences and other educative meetings. These trainings are also one of the strategic management plans of this agency as they provide educative material for the society. It is essential that people should be aware of the situations that could happen and know what to do. These trainings also prepare volunteer and deal with qualification improvement of the specialists.

Dealing with National Emergency Management Institute, this particular public safety agency provides a number of courses acute nowadays: “The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Training Department presents emergency preparedness training, seminars, workshops and conferences to state and local first responders defined in Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8 (i.e., police, fire, emergency management, emergency medical services, public health, public works and others).The Department develops and maintains professional partnerships with many public and private institutions so that we may meet the training needs of your communities. Based upon needs assessment surveys, the Training Department develops and implements new curricula and courses, offers ongoing legacy training programs. Additionally, the training department facilitates independent study course programs, coordinates federally sponsored training at the National Emergency Management Institute. Some of the courses offered are: Incident Command System (200, 300, 400), Hazardous Material Awareness, Exercise Design, HSEEP, In addition, the Department also provides technical assistance in exercising emergency plans & procedures” (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2009). It is essential that such training department is very important part in the whole managerial structure of public safety agency, giving reasonable support for society and providing educative material and seminars.

Another important part of the agency is Operations Devisions. It is strongly connected to the Emergency Operations Center and working 24 hours a day 7 days a week: “The Operations Division of MEMA maintains and operates the state Emergency Operations Center (EOC), monitoring emergencies statewide through the Communications Division 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The state EOC serves as the command and control center for the Commonwealth during an emergency. The Operations Division manages and coordinates emergency response efforts for the Commonwealth. Through MEMA regional offices, it coordinates the response to requests for aid from local authorities upon depletion of their local resources. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Team (MEMT) is prepared and trained by the Operations Division. Membership in MEMT is comprised of the many state, Federal, local, volunteer, public and private agencies and organizations which are represented at the State EOC during activation for an emergency for better coordination of the Commonwealth's assets. Operations Division also is responsible for updating and publishing the Governor's Emergency Notification Roster, preparing and maintaining MEMA's master calendar, and assuring that MEMA maintains a high degree of preparedness and readiness.” (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2009). Such division in the public safety agency is very important as the group of quick reactions is always needed for extraordinary situation. Having strong connection to the human factor, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency provides a team that could react immediately on any situation. It is essential that such groups have high level of responsibility and are working under the high pressure. The common strategy of the whole organization has significant bonus because of such group.

Being prepared for any kind of situation Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency has also has Nuclear Preparedness Department, which gives all the necessary information and has clear strategic plan in the case of nuclear accident or attack. In the present day political and sociological situation the threat of nuclear accident could become real. It goes without saying that the society should be aware of all the necessary information and know how to react in the case of nuclear disaster.

Disaster Recovery Division is one of the most significant departments of the agency. It strongly deals with the after effects liquidations and victims of the catastrophe: “The Disaster Recovery Division of MEMA deals directly with local disaster victims. It guides cities and towns, as well as individuals, through the loss reimbursement process. This includes the distribution of federal and state disaster monies for individuals, cities and towns, state agencies and eligible non-profit organizations to assist in their recovery efforts to restore the areas to pre-disaster condition” (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2009).

The leading position in organization is also a significant part and for the managerial process to. Co-ordination and taking up serious decisions, especially when thousands of humans’ live depend on these decisions, is very responsible position. Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is guided by EMD Advisory Committee: “The Emergency Management Directors Advisory Committee is a group comprised of Massachusetts Emergency Management Directors representing the diversity that exists in MA emergency management programs” (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2009).
The agency regularly makes publications and gives the latest information connected with its activities.

The Criminal Justice system has a strong deal with public safety organization being a part of the whole system. In fact co-operation between these two systems produces good effects. Public safety agencies and those who take active part in their activity should understand that Criminal Justice system being a part of the whole public safety system protects the interests of the society. What is important that such managerial organization and planning, they usually have all the necessary statistical data according to every case of social disasters. It will be one of the key factors helping with statistical data and as a fact influencing the sentencing guidelines on the criminal justice system. It essential, that such organization and their managerial structure have serious impact on criminal justice system, in the case of any social disaster. Such organizations often provide independent investigations, which could be used for the trial, for example in the case of ecological disaster. Such investigation could have a good advantage, giving needed materials for the trial process in order to find those who are really guilty.

Co-operation within these two levels of public safety provides more care and safety for the society and maintenance of human rights and liberties.

References:

1. US Fed News Service (September 15, 2009). Public Safety Agencies plan ‘career day’ at state police headquaters. HT Media Ltd.

2. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Retrieved 11th of December 2009

3. Accenture. (2009). Public Safety Agencies. Achieving High Performance in an Era of Change. Retrived 11th of December 2009

4. Paul Harlow, "Glencoe's public safety services," Public Management 76, no. 6 (June 1994): 25-27

5. Lawrence(J.D.), Barnett (2000). Safety Management Handbook: CCH Safety Professional Series. Vol. 2 pg.9301-9307. Health and Human Resources, Chicago,IL

6. Hilyer, Barbara; Veasey, Alan; Oldfield, Kenneth; Craft-McCormick, Lisa (2000) Effective Safety and Health Training, CRC Press

7. US Department of Labor. Training Requirements in OSHA Standards and Training Guidelines. OSHA 2254 1998 (Revised)

8. The Washington Times. "A poor bargain," The Washington Times, July 6, 2007. July 25, 2007.