Police Technology

Posted by Extreme Tactical Dynamics on Jun 29th 2019

No one can deny that digital, electronic, mechanical, in fact, just about everything we use today has vastly changed in a few short years, months, and even weeks. Almost nothing has stayed the same in the growing field that is called: TECHNOLOGY. It is, therefore, not a surprise that in the vast area of law enforcement, technological advances are greatly influencing how police officers are doing their jobs. Old equipment that was once considered revolutionary when introduced just decades ago, is now being replaced by sophisticated, hard-to-believe advancements.

This new technology takes many shapes and forms; it can be worn or thrown. Drones fly through the air; robots crawl up and down stairs. Digital technology is displayed on the screens of computers, which are now in almost every police unit, in addition, to being on smartphones, tablets, and even on hand-held fingerprint scanners. Thermal imaging software has been around for a while, but now detectives have access to 3-D Crime scene imaging. Some technological devices have ‘Superman Vision’ and can see through walls. Another uses brain fingerprinting, the new lie-detector test. And still others are used for ‘predictive’ information that gives police officers ‘an edge’ when managing potentially ‘explosive’ situations. ’ Even police lights such as the led light bar are changing, as may be seen in our cutting-edge Blaze Visor Light, which ranks near the top of police visor lights. Even the simple police siren is evolving.

Cost effective technologies and digital software provide new lifesaving solutions and more efficient ways for law enforcement to protect and serve the public. Advanced equipment using the most up-to-date technology is the new gear for SWAT Teams, Police Departments, and Police Officers. The new technologies collect and transform information into usable data which means that officers can prevent crimes more effectively and solve crimes faster. Police are better informed by having immediate access to surveillance data which can be analyzed quickly. Information is power, and with the new technologies, police are better prepared to do the jobs they are trained for.

If you are considering a career in law enforcement, get ready to ‘go digital’ because as Patrick Solar says: “ When I started my career in law enforcement nearly 35 years ago, the only "technology" we needed was the police radio and the location of the nearest pay phone.” That’s how it used to be. He continues: “Today police radios scan 30 channels and officers typically have in-car video cameras, traffic monitoring radar units, in-car computer data terminals with Internet access, body cameras, a department-issued cell phones and, of course, personal cell phones.” Professor Solar, Ph.D. has seen it all from street officer to chief. He’s on staff at the University of Wisconsin--Platteville. Yes, he’s seen policing evolve into what it is today, a high-tech career. Innovations in emergency response technology are moving so fast; the professor/chief could easily wonder what technologically advanced equipment will be issued as standard gear to law enforcement agencies in the next 35 years?

References:

5 Tactical Considerations for Throwable Robots
www.policeone.com/police-products/police-technology/robots/articles/320406006-5-tactical-considerations-for-throwable-robot-deployment/

Police Predictive Policing
https://www.policeone.com/police-products/Predictive-Policing/

What British Cops are using in Surveillance
https://www.policeone.com/police-products/radios/surveillance/articles/252524006-3-surveillance-tools-American-cops-arent-using-but-should-be/

Police Technology
https://www.policeone.com/police-products/police-technology/

How Technology is Changing Law Enforcement
http://www.policemag.com/blog/technology/story/2015/12/how-technology-is-changing-law-enforcement.aspx

Police Technology that is Changing the Business
https://www.thebalance.com/technologies-that-are-changing-the-way-police-do-business-974549

NIJ: Law Enforcement Equipment and Technology
https://www.nij.gov/topics/law-enforcement/technology/Pages/welcome.aspx

Cool Cop Tech: 5 new technologies helping police fight crime
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2501178/government-it/cool-cop-tech--5-new-technologies-helping-police-fight-crime.html