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https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-city-police-technology-drones-cameras/41928921
Law Enforcement Technology- Making Strides in Reducing Crime Rates and Improving Efficiency
Police budgets have been impacted by political movements set on reducing their funding. The result of this has been an uptick in crime that must be addressed. Technology from surveillance to cobot assistance have been adopted nationwide, and it appears that these technologies are working and are efficient in reducing the crime rate.
Body cameras, drones, surveillance cameras and robots are helping law enforcement officers and departments to be more efficient and plug the gaps that funding shortfalls have created. In ages past, technological improvements from fingerprinting, CCTV usage and monitoring to crime lab testing and DNA PCR testing have improved the ability for law enforcement to work. Society and business depend upon law enforcement to whom we have delegated our need for protect our lives and property. We need to empower them to do this task with improving technology and efficiency gains through investment and research.
Technology has made the conviction rate in law enforcement higher, and throughout the years, the crime rate in America has decreased. During times of turmoil following the Pandemic and police defunding initiatives crime rates increased. DNA evidence processing helped exonerate the innocent and convict the guilty following the creation of PCR technology that has made law men more effective.
A new technology has been installed and used in Memphis, Tennessee called “Shotspotters”. Shotspotters are sensors that monitor for gunshots and explosions and can locate the source of these events. Recently, a Shotspotter was able to pinpoint the location of a crime in Memphis and video footage was able to capture the crime and the criminal. These Shotspotters are an efficient new technology that can save police resources and can gather information at crime hotspots. Shotspotters are being used in 100-cities in America, and have helped solve crimes and save lives. Shotspotters are an example of an efficient technology that has successfully been deployed nationwide that reduces our reliance on human patrolling and surveillance. The technology still requires human response but reduces waste in operations.
Oklahoma City initiatives to integrate drones and surveillance measures including license plate scanners have decreased the crime rate there. A combination of officers and drones utilized as “cobots” can help locate suspects while reducing the chance of loss during pursuits. Defunding the police is a political and social issue, but as the trend has accelerated, the reality is that technology will help fill this critical gap.
Technology should increase our efficiency and the accuracy of our work. Crime fighting technology has increased in leaps and bounds. Visible technological advancements in law enforcement makes criminals think twice before committing crimes and the ability to exonerate the innocent while finding the guilty is a major step forward. We have come a long way since the Wild West and we can continue to make strides to safeguard our property and people.
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