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Improvements in video surveillance, tracking systems, and databases have provided first responders with the tools needed to be more effective. What about safety? What new inventions are out there to help first responders remain safe and effective?
In this episode of Tier Talk, Anthony Gangi sits down with Matthew Gallup and discusses the Body Beacon. The Body Beacon is an LED equipped belt keeper that enhances the visibility of the operator and allows administration to efficiently respond to emergencies. Administration can accomplish this by organizing responses by color, and the device can be used as a panic button. Corrections officers may have radios, but the Body Beacon can silently alert the video surveillance officer. You can also attach a Body Beacon to higher risk prisoners to get a better sense of the prisoner’s location. In an larger scale ERT response, divisions can be assigned colors to organize skirmish lines, arrest teams, rapid intervention teams and EMS response. Corrections officers now can patrol make motor vehicle stops and enhanced patrols and have increased visibility to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. In addition, if prisoners are working on a exterior detail, they also can be equipped with the device on the rear of their reflective vests.
EMS can wear the Body Beacons to avoid being struck while getting out of their vehicles and coordinating mass casualty responses via color coding with triage tags. Hot, warm and cold zones can also be coordinated with Body Beacon illuminated scene tape that corresponds with the tape color defining that space.
Fire fighters can wear the Body Beacons on their radio straps and SCBA straps, and they too can be color coordinated. Engine, truck, RIT teams can now be color specific. If there is a mayday, the description of the firefighter’s Body Beacon may potentially create a platform for a quicker rescue of that firefighter. Fire and police can also divert traffic in a safer way by wearing a Body Beacon in conjunction with their reflective vest.
Other private sectors also would benefit from the device. Any services that require a traffic vest should require a Body Beacon.
About Matt Gallup
Matt Gallup knew in his young childhood that the thin blue line was a calling. At the age of sixteen, Gallup joined the Oakland First Aid Squad and earned his EMT certification. He also joined the Ramsey Police Explorer Group at the same time. At age 18, Gallup joined the Oakland Fire Department as a firefighter and as an Underwater Search and Rescue diver. Shortly thereafter, he was accepted as a member of the Oakland Auxiliary Police as a Class 1 Special. He was the first resident in Oakland to belong to all three public safety departments at the same time.
Gallup was hired by UMDNJ Police Department (now Rutgers Police) in Newark. He held the rank of Detective and served in numerous federal, state, and local task forces including the Essex/Union County Auto Theft Task Force. During his tenure, he received over 30 commendations for acts of valor. Matt worked in internal affairs, major crimes, crime scene and became UMDNJ’s first gang investigator.
Matt then transferred to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office and served in many different divisions. He was also a member of the Passaic County SWAT Team and a Commander of the Passaic County Rapid Deployment Team used in civil disorder and counter-terrorism operations.Gallup also was a member of the Passaic County Shooting Response Team and the Child Abduction Response Team. He also continued his higher education goals at Fairleigh Dickinson University and received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Administrative Science with a 4.0 GPA.
Gallup finished his 25-year career and moved on to the Montclair State University Police Department as a civilian Director of Emergency Management - a position he currently holds. He is also an adjunct professor in the Justice Studies program.
