Law Enforcement Tech
Police departments are turning to AI to sift through millions of hours of unreviewed body-cam footage
Body camera video equivalent to 25 million copies of “Barbie” is collected but rarely reviewed. Some cities are looking to new technology to examine this stockpile of footage to identify problematic officers and patterns of behavior.
How police have undermined the promise of body cameras
Hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars have been spent on what was sold as a revolution in transparency and accountability. Instead, police departments routinely refuse to release footage—even when officers kill.
Using opioid settlement cash for police gear like squad cars and scanners sparks debate
As state and local governments figure out how to spend more than $50 billion from opioid settlement cash, officials must balance how to allocate funds for competing interests such as drug addiction treatment and enhanced police tech.
Robot police dogs are on patrol, but who’s holding the leash?
Numerous cities have acquired dog-like robots for policing. Researchers say the lack of transparency is worrying.
3 Strategies for Advancing Facial Recognition Technology in Policing
As more agencies launch FRT programs, standard best practices should be discussed regularly to ensure this technology protects citizen’s privacy and civil liberties, according to a recent report.
Cracking Cold Cases: Police Turn to Podcasts to Track Down Killers
Law enforcement officials say that department-sponsored podcasts—free, easy to download and available on demand—are perfect for disseminating information. (America’s true-crime obsession doesn’t hurt.)
Baltimore Latest City to Consider Banning Facial Recognition Technology
The Maryland city joins several other localities that have banned or are assessing the controversial technology, or are limiting its scope and use.
Programmers, Lawmakers Want A.I. to Eliminate Bias, Not Promote It
Artificial intelligence can worsen systemic racism.
Report: What City Officials Need to Know About Facial Recognition Technology
How local governments are deploying facial recognition systems, as well as the technology's benefits and challenges, are addressed in a report from the National League of Cities.
The Mayor on a Mission to Bring a RoboCop Statue to His City
Mike Wiza, mayor of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, wants to score an 11-foot-tall replica of the cyborg police officer from the 1980s action film. But if that effort fails, the city might see about making its own—possibly bigger—version.
Police Department Tries Out Virtual Reality De-Escalation Training
The department in Schenectady, New York, is working with a local game development company on the program.
Police Departments Experiment With 70-Pound Robot Dog
Departments have deployed the cyber K-9s in hostage situations and as part of the covid response. Proponents say the robots can help keep officers out of harm's way, while critics worry how they could be used without clear policy guidelines in place.
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