"Military high-tech hits the homeland; BU, others test systems used in battle to help in response to domestic emergencies" by Hiawatha Bray, Globe Staff / October 25, 2010
For all its sci-fi dazzle, the gear was standard-issue stuff, much of it already used by US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Kevin Thomas, director of Boston University’s master’s degree program in health care emergency management, hopes to apply the technology to civilian challenges, including rescuing hostages and capturing criminals, hence the recent test at the medical school and another trial with police and firefighters at a Somerville elementary school.
“I was aware of the fact that we used these video and audio capabilities in the Defense Department, and knew those same tools would be very useful on the domestic side,’’ said Thomas, a retired Navy commander.
The program teaches police, firefighters, and health care workers how to deal with natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other crises....
And who could be against that, huh?
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