There are a lot of new products in law enforcement. Each day when I open by inbox, I see about three or four emails (sometimes more) for new products available for the industry. They range from clothing to firearms accessories, software to forensic equipment and much more. As a general comparison, the former industry in which I worked had about one new product per week. And those products weren’t nearly as technology-focused as in law enforcement. There are so many new innovations hitting the market that we have a sister publication—Law Enforcement Product News—dedicated solely to new products and technologies.
So, how can agencies keep up with the technology advancements on top of doing the day-to-day work? Clay Leak, patrol sergeant at the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office in Boulder, Colo., had to get creative.
Back in 2010, Leak was a detective in the Drug Task Force and managing the technology equipment there. What he found was that many different units within the department were doing their own technology research and going different directions without other units being involved. Without a centralized technology task force, units were acting independently, making impulse purchases without considering the usability for others, and most times reinventing the wheel, he says.
In 2013, Leak created a “Technology Exploration Committee” (TEC) for the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, including representation from IT, patrol, detectives and command staff. Its primary purpose is to research, test and evaluate emerging technologies, make purchase recommendations, develop policies and procedures for the use of technological tools and assist in developing training plans for implementation. Since its creation, the TEC has made great strides. It has added 360-degree cameras for crime scene photography; made effective use of game cameras and pole/IP cameras at area trailheads to more effectively and efficiently combat vehicle break-ins; promoted continued use of an automated license plate recognition (ALPR) system, which they are expanding from one vehicle installation to two vehicles and a network of fixed ALPR cameras along key vehicle routes; and deployed department-wide issued iPhones coupled with mobile device management, to streamline technology by eliminating digital point & shoot cameras and expensive digital recorders.
This is just one example of an agency keeping up with the ever-expanding law enforcement technology offerings. When looking for technology at your own department, make sure you do the research. Involve many voices to ensure that technology you’re investing in can benefit more than one unit. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other agencies for recommendations, either. Chances are, a challenge you’re facing is one that has been faced before.
Of course, budgets always come into the conversation when discussing technology investments. So we want to know, what are your budget projections for 2018? Will you be allocating funds to new tech?
Take a moment to tell us at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Officer18.
Enjoy the issue and stay safe!
Adrienne
Want to read more about the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office or get in touch with Clay Leak? Visit Officer.com/12357864.
