5 Advancements in Police Technology That Are Reshaping Law Enforcement
Since the early 1900s, law enforcement has been changing. At that time, August Vollmer modernized law enforcement making it a more regulated system.
Improvements in technology can help police officers become more efficient while keeping them safe and responsible.
Continue reading to learn how advancements in police technology are changing the way law enforcement works.
1. Police Cruisers
When the first police car hit the streets in 1899, it was a far cry from what you might picture today. Huge strides have been made in the modernization of police cruisers, creating a more efficient basis for law enforcement.
Police cars are now fitted with the latest technology allowing them to become a mobile police station. They have wifi-enabled devices to access databases, time-sensitive information, and communication with the station at all times.
As technology advances, police cruisers get updated with new equipment.
The StarChase attaches to the cruiser’s grill and contains a small projectile with GPS capabilities. When in pursuit of a vehicle, the officer will launch the device onto the back of the runaway car.
Rather than participate in a high-speed chase, they can safely track down where the suspect ran off to.
2. Protection for Everyone
Law enforcement has a reputation for being a dangerous career choice. There’s no way to get around the fact that a police officer may not make it home at the end of a hard shift.
There are technological devices that protect officers in the line of duty. These new technologies were also incorporated as a means to keep police responsible for their actions.
Dashcams have been installed in the front of police cruisers. Police officers are issued body cams as a part of their uniforms that will allow all of their shifts to be recorded.
3. Telescopic Masts
Newer technology includes telescopic masts for law enforcement purposes. The telescopic mast is a device for physical surveillance that lowers the risk of harm coming to a police officer on a stakeout.
The telescopic mast is a pole that can raise cameras, among other surveillance devices, i.e., lights and antennas, high into the air without putting police lives in jeopardy.
4. Facial Recognition Software
Facial recognition software uses a complex algorithm to compare a rendered template of an individual’s face to those in a certain system to see if they can find a match.
Anyone who has been booked for an arrest will pop up in the system if compared to the databases with facial recognition software.
A local arrest may bring up results from the local, state, or even federal facial recognition database. This helps determine if an arrestee has broken the law in another city, state, or country.
5. Thermal Imaging
For many years, thermal imaging has allowed law enforcement to track down fugitives or missing people by detecting their body heat. Thermal imaging is more efficient than night vision.
These cameras can assist in crime scenes or track recently discarded evidence. Law enforcement officials can use thermal imaging for search and rescue ops.
Advances in Police Technology
With advances in police technology, the law enforcement world seems to evolve faster than it takes to put out a B.O.L.O. The father of modern law enforcement would be proud to see how far police technology has come in the last 100 years.
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