Police officers' day-to-day effectiveness relies on responding to the world around them. Today, that task includes understanding and working with technology.

Social media's growing role in community communications is too important to ignore, and tech-savvy police departments can even receive tips from the public and distribute public safety information via Facebook, Twitter or other platforms.

Fire departments have a serious gender disparity. Only about 7 percent of American firefighters are women. Departments that take action to close this hiring gap can promote fairness and opportunity, improve community engagement and reach optimal staffing levels.