Safety Gap

Explore the evolution of policing technology with Mike Ricupero. From the NYPD RTCC to AI and drones, learn how data is modernizing law enforcement.

Learn how DuPage County consolidated 22 dispatch centers into 2, saving $10M in costs while slashing fire response times from 50 to 15 seconds. Linda Zerwin joins RapidSOS to share the blueprint for successful 911 consolidation and NextGen technology.

Explore the future of public safety with Amy Marion from RapidSOS. Covers 911 system integration, telematics beyond crash detection, and the reality of school safety.

Two mission-driven leaders revolutionize 911. Learn how 911 Secure and RapidSOS deliver precise location and context instantly to first responders, saving critical seconds.

Amy Marion from RapidSOS hosts a critical discussion on how telematics data can transform emergency response with Eric Troy, VP of eDispatches at RapidSOS, and Michael Armitage, Executive Director of Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority in Michigan. The conversation reveals how connected vehicle data can bridge dangerous gaps in traditional 911 workflows. The panel examines real scenario...

Karin Marquez from RapidSOS teams up with Ricardo Martinez from Within the Trenches podcast to speak with Jim Schmidt, Secretary of the Gabby Petito Foundation and retired fire captain with 25 years in public safety. Jim shares how losing his stepdaughter Gabby to domestic violence revealed critical gaps in first responder training that he had never recognized during his career in fire, EMS, and 9...

Cassidy Shield and Karin Marquez from RapidSOS sit down with Nick Brown, Director of Lone Worker Solutions at SafetyCulture, to explore the rapidly growing world of lone worker safety technology. Nick shares how his company evolved from building pizza delivery trackers to creating comprehensive safety solutions for the millions of workers who spend time alone every day. The conversation covers the...

From patrolling the Microsoft campus to becoming Chief Security Officer at ServiceNow, Brian Tuskan shares his 22-year journey from public safety to Fortune 500 leadership. Learn how he built the Silicon Valley Security Model, a revolutionary AI-enabled approach to protecting global corporate campuses. Brian discusses how data-driven security programs prepare for major threats years in advance.

In this episode of The Safety Gap, Cassidy Shield and Karin Marquez interview Laurie Flaherty, a well-regarded leader and pioneer in the 911 emergency services sector. Laurie shares her unique journey, beginning as an emergency nurse for 25 years before unexpectedly stepping into the world of 911 at the federal level. She details how, with little initial experience, she had to learn from the groun...

In this episode of The Safety Gap podcast, Cassidy Shield and Karen Marquez welcome Pat Hamilton, the Alliance Director for the I Love U Guys Foundation. Pat brings a wealth of experience from his background in public education and school safety, sharing the compelling origin story of the foundation, born out of tragedy in the wake of the 2006 Platte Canyon High School shooting, where the founders...

In this episode of The Safety Gap podcast, Cassidy Shield and Karin Marquez sit down with Chris Salafia, CEO of Total Response, to explore the evolution of 911 call taking and public safety technology. The conversation kicks off with reflections on the recent NENA conference, where all noted an infectious energy and a sense of renewal as a younger, change-embracing generation enters the field. Thi...

In this episode of The Safety Gap Podcast, host Cassidy Shield and co-host Karin Marquez welcome Yasmine Mustafa, CEO and co-founder of ROAR, for an insightful discussion on innovations addressing crucial gaps in workplace safety. Yasmine opens up about her journey coming to the U.S. as a refugee, her challenges growing up undocumented, and the power imbalances she faced in unsafe jobs. These expe...

In this episode of The Safety Gap, Cassidy Shield and Karin Marquez sit down with Parminder Batra, CEO and founder of TrakNProtect. Parminder shares her unique journey from attorney and mom to safety tech entrepreneur, revealing how a simple desire to track everyday household items eventually evolved into a mission-driven company tackling critical safety issues in hospitality. Her personal story a...

In this episode of The Safety Gap, hosts Cassidy Shield and Karin Marquez explore a hidden challenge facing 911 centers: up to 2 million non-emergency roadside calls annually that strain emergency resources and create safety gaps. Guest Ben Zatlin from Agero shares how he discovered this problem through direct conversations with telecommunicators nationwide. Calls from stranded drivers whose cars...

In this episode of The Safety Gap, hosts Cassidy Shield and Karin Marquez  speak with Scott Lowry, co-founder and CEO of StrataSite, about improving emergency response through incident action plans. Scott shares how his 25-year law enforcement career led him to identify critical gaps in coordinated emergency response, particularly in the "plus one" period after the initial crisis. Scott...

In this episode of Safety Gap, Cassidy Shield and Karin Marquez talk with Dr. Michelle Lilly about the mental health of 911 telecommunicators. Michelle is a clinical psychologist and expert in 911 telecommunicator mental health. She discusses the unique stressors of the job. She also covers the impact on dispatchers. Michelle's research reveals that PTSD rates in 911 dispatchers are similar t...

In this episode of Safety Gap, host Cassidy Shield is joined by Cait Kennedy from Vesta Healthcare and Jennifer White from RapidSOS to unpack why emergency medical calls often fall short—and what can be done about it. Cait explains the challenges patients and caregivers face when deciding to call 911, especially when they don’t know what other options exist. She shares real examples of how repeate...

Eagle Eye Networks’ VP of Marketing, Cooper Briscoe, joins Cassidy Shield and Karin Marquez to explore a big leap in emergency response: live camera sharing with 911 centers. Cooper breaks down how real-time video access during emergencies gives telecommunicators faster, clearer insights—cutting down on guesswork and improving decisions when seconds matter. The conversation covers both the private...

In this episode of Safety Gap , hosts Cassidy Shield and Karen Marquez welcome Ryan Bennett, Director of Product Management at CENTEGIX, to discuss innovative advancements in school safety technology. Ryan provides a deep dive into CENTEGIX’s Crisis Alert solution, a wearable badge that empowers staff and administrators to respond to emergencies with unparalleled speed and precision. The discussio...

In this episode of Safety Gap LIVE, Cassidy Shield and Karin Marquez explore the critical issue of delays in emergency response with guest Deirdre Fike, former VP of Investigations & Intelligence at MGM Resorts International. They discuss communication breakdowns between public and private sectors and how these gaps impact safety and security. The conversation highlights the importance of stro...

In this episode of Safety Gap, hosts Cassidy Shield and Karen Marquez speak with Meir Berkman, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Avive Solutions Inc. Meir discusses the groundbreaking work behind Avive’s connected AEDs, designed to improve survival rates for sudden cardiac arrests. With survival rates stagnating at just 10% for decades, Avive aims to make life-saving technolog...

In this episode of Safety Gap , hosts Cassidy Shield and Karen Marquez sit down with Mike Rodgers, CEO of Critical Response Group (CRG), to explore the life-saving impact of emergency mapping. Drawing on his military background and lessons learned in Army Special Operations, Mike shares the origin story of CRG and its mission to create accurate, accessible maps that improve emergency response coor...

In this episode of The Safety Gap, hosts Cassidy Shield and Karin Marquez sit down with Gordon Folkes, founder of Archer First Response Systems, to explore how drone technology is reshaping emergency response. Gordon shares the mission behind his company: saving lives through rapid delivery of critical medical equipment like AEDs, Narcan, and even whole blood to emergency scenes. With drones capab...

In this episode of The Safety Gap, hosts Cassidy Shield and Karin Marquez sit down with Tim Sherno, Chief Marketing Officer of NOMO Smart Care, to explore how innovative technology is transforming elder care. NOMO provides a privacy-focused solution that tracks patterns in motion and activity without intrusive cameras, enabling families to monitor loved ones while respecting their independence. Ti...

In this episode of Safety Gap , hosts Cassidy Shield and Karin Marquez sit down with David Rogers, Chief Marketing Officer of Raptor Technologies, to explore how modern technology is transforming school safety. David shares Raptor’s mission to create safer environments for students and educators, touching on their innovative suite of tools, from visitor management systems to emergency response app...