1. Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program
   The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program is a federally funded program which provides death, disability and education benefits to eligible spouses and children of public safety officers who died in the line of duty on or after January 1, 1978, or were catastrophically disabled in the line of duty on or after October 3, 1996. For more information visit www.psob.gov or contact the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Office, 810 Seventh Street NW. Washington, DC 20531 or phone 202-307-0635 or email

2. October is Crime Prevention and Disaster Preparedness Month – Celebrate
   The Bureau of Justice Assistance along with the National Sheriffs’ Association and the National Crime Prevention Council encourages local law enforcement agencies and community organizations to celebrate their safe communities by holding an annual event in October, which can be as small as a neighborhood gathering or as large as a countywide public safety fair. Event can include crime prevention, community preparedness, fire safety, and emergency medical services. Visit the Celebrate Safe Communities website where you can register your event and exchange ideas with other participating agencies. The website offers guidance in holding an event and developing partnerships as well as extensive crime prevention information and free downloadable materials. Crime prevention trainers are available through the National Crime Prevention Association (NCPA)’s website.

3. Smart Policing Initiative
   The Bureau of Justice Assistance announced in September 2009 a “Smart Policing Initiative” program which offers tools and knowledge that will assist state and local law enforcement in providing quality police services. The SPI seeks to build on the concepts of offender-based and place-based (“hotspot”) policing by replicating evidence-based practices or to encourage exploration of new, unique solutions to public safety problems and criminogenic circumstances. Their findings reveal that effective policing requires a tightly focused, collaborative approach that is measurable; based on sound, detailed analysis; and includes policies and procedures that promote and support accountability. In 2009 ten law enforcement agencies throughout the United States were awarded grants total $4M. BJA required applicants for the grants to enlist a research partner, demonstrate the ability to collect and analyze data, and incorporate realistic and meaningful performance measures to assess the effectiveness of their efforts. For more information on the Smart Policing Initiative, please contact either Michael Medaris, or Alissa Huntoon.

At the 20 September 2007 membership meeting, Andrew S. Levy, Chairman Fairfax County Citizen Corps Council, Office of Emergency Management was the featured speaker.

He spoke on Emergency Preparedness - "Pass It On?" - Emergency Preparedness is more than having a preparedness kit. Resources including Ready.gov and www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency, Citizen Corps Council, volunteer opportunities/lessons learned, and Pass It On. The "Pass It On?" concept is multi-fold, not to pass on the responsibility to others and to pass on the message.