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HOW ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY ARE HELPING LAW ENFORCEMENT STAY SAFE IN THE FIELD

by Sierra Hatfield

States have yet to deploy chrome-plated humanoid machines to chase speeding cars on motorcycles and print tickets from their mouths, but that doesn’t mean that law enforcement remains untouched by the future. Although “robocops” are still not in mass production, what we once thought to be science fiction is now slowly creeping its way into realistic ideas for producing smarter, more efficient law enforcement—although in a much less blockbuster fashion. Several states have legislation on the books regarding body cameras. For example, four states—California, Connecticut, South Carolina and Nevada—require at least some officers to wear body-worn cameras, while 14 other states have legislation regarding funding should a police department seek to acquire some. Multiple studies assembled by the U.S. Department of Justice have proven that officers who wear body cameras not only receive fewer complaints and use of force reports, but they also make more arrests and issue more citations than officers who do not wear them. As a result, states are able to find financial and administrative savings as fewer resources are spent on addressing officer complaints. In addition to body cameras, some states are exploring other technologies that can accompany an officer on the job. In Louisiana, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office is one of the first law enforcement agencies in the state to provide deputies with Sharps and Needles Destruction Devices (SANDDs). Deputies come across needles almost constantly— sometimes getting accidentally pricked—and the jail pays a monthly fee to dispose of them safely. A SANDD, however, provides deputies with a safe, effective, money-saving method of disposing needles (and any bloodborne pathogens on them) without risking any evidence contained in the syringe. The device can be attached to patrol cars and incinerates needles with a temperature of just over 4,500 degrees. Allowing deputies to dispose of needles on-site with a SANDD not only saves time and money, but also protects their physical health and increases peace of mind. With the technological leaps made in the last two decades, it is possible states will one day have the ability to deploy a more automated law enforcement. Currently, other technologies such as ultra-rugged laptops, drones and facial recognition are helping police departments stay connected to the data to make better-informed decisions. But looking ahead, the possibilities are endless—voice-to-text technology has the potential to cut the burden of paperwork in half for police officers. New technology features in squad cars, such as built-in sensors that audibly warn the driver of danger in their environment, could save lives. As the realm of science fiction draws closer to reality, states are working hard to provide law enforcement with the best technology available.