• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • The power of teamwork
      Stay awake and alert on the job
      The worst rank in law enforcement
      Firearms maintenance
      Why fries need salt
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • Boulder police recover $400,000 in stolen paintings, drug stash in...
        California police officer rescues three people from car teetering on...
        Stranded driver gets gas refill from helpful police officer
        “I felt like it was my job”: North Carolina officer honored for...
        Ohio police officer goes the extra mile to feed and clothe homeless...
    • Labor
      • Florida pays out $5M in hiring bonuses for more than one thousand...
        Cops leave NYPD in highest number since 9/11
        California police department to pay academy costs to boost recruiting...
        Indiana police department offering $10,000 signing bonus to lateral...
        “The game has clearly changed”: Police departments employ variety...
    • Tech
      • Minnesota law enforcement agencies turn to facial recognition...
        Vehicle infotainment systems vulnerable to hacking
        “It is a game changer:” Minnesota county implements mobile...
        Ohio police lay a trap to nab porch pirates
        Oceanside Police Department unveils new crime-mapping tool to protect...
    • Training
      • Pennsylvania police utilize VR for de-escalation training
        Running your patrol rifle like a champion
        Present ability, opportunity and apparent intent
        Defensive tactics
        Mechanics, consistency and aggression
    • Policy
      • Arkansas sheriff’s offices refuse to enforce federal ATF gun policy
        President Biden signs bill expanding national missing persons database
        California Highway Patrol spotlights new traffic laws for 2023
        Texas law enforcement leaders say the state has too many police...
        Justice Department launches new language initiative after resolving...
    • Health/Wellness
      • Coping with internal investigation or legal action
        The value of data: Wellness through the eyes of officers
        What officers love, hope and worry about
        Don’t be “that guy” — get moving
        Compassion fatigue
    • Community
      • LAPD chief bans “Thin Blue Line” flag from department use
        Friday Night Lights duty
        Oklahoma law enforcement teach children self-defense tactics to build...
        Former Superman actor thanks police officers for their...
        Colorado police department establishes safety zones for internet...
    • Offbeat
      • Drunk-driving suspect performs backflip for Ohio police during...
        “Like a scene from ‘Home Alone’”: Georgia man slips on ice...
        “Some real sitcom stuff there”: Florida burglars call 9-1-1 for...
        Wyoming police officer restores classic Chevy Bel Air as police...
        Santa Cruz police arrest 19-year-old for handing out fake parking...
    • We Remember
      • “I had a calling”: Colorado cadet inspired by fallen hero Eric...
        Chicago police remember fallen and injured officers this holiday...
        Deputy killed by roommate after he “jokingly” pulled trigger of...
        Maryland’s oldest cold case solved
        At least 13 officers shot in five days as wave of violence sweeps...
  • On the Job
    • Boulder police recover $400,000 in stolen paintings, drug stash in...
      California police officer rescues three people from car teetering on...
      Stranded driver gets gas refill from helpful police officer
      “I felt like it was my job”: North Carolina officer honored for...
      Ohio police officer goes the extra mile to feed and clothe homeless...
  • Labor
    • Florida pays out $5M in hiring bonuses for more than one thousand...
      Cops leave NYPD in highest number since 9/11
      California police department to pay academy costs to boost recruiting...
      Indiana police department offering $10,000 signing bonus to lateral...
      “The game has clearly changed”: Police departments employ variety...
  • Tech
    • Minnesota law enforcement agencies turn to facial recognition...
      Vehicle infotainment systems vulnerable to hacking
      “It is a game changer:” Minnesota county implements mobile...
      Ohio police lay a trap to nab porch pirates
      Oceanside Police Department unveils new crime-mapping tool to protect...
  • Training
    • Pennsylvania police utilize VR for de-escalation training
      Running your patrol rifle like a champion
      Present ability, opportunity and apparent intent
      Defensive tactics
      Mechanics, consistency and aggression
  • Policy
    • Arkansas sheriff’s offices refuse to enforce federal ATF gun policy
      President Biden signs bill expanding national missing persons database
      California Highway Patrol spotlights new traffic laws for 2023
      Texas law enforcement leaders say the state has too many police...
      Justice Department launches new language initiative after resolving...
  • Health/Wellness
    • Coping with internal investigation or legal action
      The value of data: Wellness through the eyes of officers
      What officers love, hope and worry about
      Don’t be “that guy” — get moving
      Compassion fatigue
  • Community
    • LAPD chief bans “Thin Blue Line” flag from department use
      Friday Night Lights duty
      Oklahoma law enforcement teach children self-defense tactics to build...
      Former Superman actor thanks police officers for their...
      Colorado police department establishes safety zones for internet...
  • Offbeat
    • Drunk-driving suspect performs backflip for Ohio police during...
      “Like a scene from ‘Home Alone’”: Georgia man slips on ice...
      “Some real sitcom stuff there”: Florida burglars call 9-1-1 for...
      Wyoming police officer restores classic Chevy Bel Air as police...
      Santa Cruz police arrest 19-year-old for handing out fake parking...
  • We Remember
    • “I had a calling”: Colorado cadet inspired by fallen hero Eric...
      Chicago police remember fallen and injured officers this holiday...
      Deputy killed by roommate after he “jokingly” pulled trigger of...
      Maryland’s oldest cold case solved
      At least 13 officers shot in five days as wave of violence sweeps...
  • Between the Lines
    • Persecution of the LEO is Classic Schadenfreude
      The Rule of Law is Worthless Without Order
      School policing: a paradox of the defund movement
      Defending the honor of the LE profession – finally!
      The dichotomy of the defund movement: reality setting in
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

Tech

High-tech policing

Technological advancements expand and enhance police capabilities

APB Team Published April 30, 2022 @ 6:00 am PDT

iStock.com/scyther5

Police agencies around the world are incorporating a variety of technological capabilities, from common smart devices to virtual and augmented realities. Forbes highlighted the following as some of the top trends right now.

Smart devices and data

As consumers upgrade their homes and attire with smart devices that track everything from deliveries to personal health indicators, investigators see this trend as an evidentiary windfall. Forbes writes that more than 400 departments have collaborated with Ring, the video doorbell manufacturer, after gaining consent from owners. The device enables cops to capture images of porch pirates and burglars as well as aids in identifying suspects, vehicles and developing investigative timelines. Voice-activated virtual assistants have proven to be key witnesses, too. Forbes states data collected by an Alexa smart speaker was used in a double-murder case.

Cities also have gotten on board, deploying smart gadgets to collect data and alert authorities. ShotSpotter, for example, tracks sounds from microphones attached to traffic infrastructure. The theory is that police response to gunshots will come faster through this system rather than waiting for human witnesses to call 9-1-1.

Voice-activated virtual assistants have proven to be key witnesses, too. Forbes states data collected by an Alexa smart speaker was used in a double-murder case.

Computer vision

This technology genre includes automated license plates and facial recognition readers, the latter of which has come under criticism for racial and gender bias. But it also includes technology that analyzes microscopic eye and facial movements that could prove more reliable than heart rate reactions in traditional lie detector tests.

Robots

Long used in explosive device situations, robots have become more agile, and controllers operate the latest models via virtual reality headsets instead of remote controls. They’re also being equipped with additional technology, such as thermal cameras, so officers can surveil scenes while limiting exposure of threats to their personal safety.

Virtual and augmented reality

Once regulated to video games, law enforcement organizations have adapted virtual reality (VR) programs to generate various training scenarios. Forbes reported VR simulations test officers’ efforts to de-escalate potentially violent circumstances as well as reactions to individuals who may be mentally compromised or hearing impaired.

Augmented reality (AR) software could be employed to enhance environmental input, such as AR glasses running facial recognition on public crowds. Used in China, according to Forbes, such technology most likely would face strong opposition in the United States due to privacy and civil liberty concerns.

Digital twins

Digital twinning isn’t like creating holograms or deepfakes for Hollywood films, but more like cloning objects, systems or processes in digital form. The technology could assist departments in simulating and assessing responses, emergency coverage and resource deployment. Again, Forbes cites use by departments in China but does not confirm instances by U.S. law enforcement agencies.

Although there are ongoing concerns regarding how technology could interfere with or violate protected rights, as long as criminals use it for their dirty deeds, law enforcement will continue to advance their high-tech skills and technical armory.

As seen in the April 2022 issue of American Police Beat magazine.
Don’t miss out on another issue today! Click below:

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Categories: Tech

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Minnesota law enforcement agencies turn to facial recognition technology to identify potential suspects
  • LAPD chief bans “Thin Blue Line” flag from department use
  • Boulder police recover $400,000 in stolen paintings, drug stash in hotel room
  • Pennsylvania police utilize VR for de-escalation training
  • California police officer rescues three people from car teetering on cliff edge
  • Florida pays out $5M in hiring bonuses for more than one thousand officers over past six months
  • Cops leave NYPD in highest number since 9/11
  • California police department to pay academy costs to boost recruiting and offset labor shortages
  • Vehicle infotainment systems vulnerable to hacking
  • Drunk-driving suspect performs backflip for Ohio police during sobriety test

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

The power of teamwork

The power of teamwork

July 23, 2021

Stay awake and alert on the job

Stay awake and alert on the job

July 20, 2021

The worst rank in law enforcement

The worst rank in law enforcement

July 19, 2021

Firearms maintenance

Firearms maintenance

July 04, 2021

Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close
Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.