Though this year marked the 124th Annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference, it was my first year attending and covering the show as a journalist for the law enforcement industry. The sheer size of the show floor, the breadth of education sessions and the number of attendees from around the globe were truly impressive; but it was the quality of content and products delivered, rather than the quantity, that deserves attention.
At the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 21, then-IACP President Don De Lucca spoke alongside Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, who acknowledged he admires the sacrifices LEOs and their families make. Richard Ross Jr., Philadelphia Police Commissioner, spoke next and discussed his philosophy and support for community policing. He also discussed how law enforcement cannot have the mentality, “That’s just the way we have always done it.” He noted that this mentality, in the long run, hurts police departments and their interaction with community members.
For the next three days, attendees—myself included—were exposed to education sessions ranging from fighting violent crime with data to challenges for implementing body cameras to how the use of UAS has improved investigations for many LE agencies. Beyond education, many attendees were there for the new gear and gadgets.
New products all around
Safety Vision, LLC introduced new cameras and recorders that enhance critical recorded evidence, including the ICOP PRO HD digital video recorder which integrates with the new Prima Elite body-worn camera. Panasonic System Communications Company of North America showcased its next generation Arbitrator Body-Worn Camera (BWC) MK3 and BWC MK3 Point of View Camera (designed to sit on an officer’s shoulder), among other solutions. Genetec demonstrated the Genetec Citigraf, its new public safety decision support system which features a powerful correlation and analytics engine that instantly detects and displays relevant information from disparate systems for inter-agency collaboration. CODY Systems unveiled the next evolution of its COBRA.net information sharing platform and offered demos of the all-new CODY Mobility App for Android and iPhone. Samsung demonstrated its DeX platform which will allow LEOs to connect their Galaxy S8/S8+ to a monitor, keyboard and mouse for a desktop experience. Sonim Technologies teamed up with Intrepid Networks, RapidSOS and SceneDoc and showcased its XP7 handset. Kustom Signals offered a sneak peak of its new Eagle 3 Directional RADAR which offers front and rear scanning mode for advanced target tracking. COBAN Technologies, Inc. launched its COBAN FOCUS H1 intelligent in-car video system where video is analyzed live from inside the car.
I wish I could go on—the products listed above are only a sampling of what was on the show floor.
The introduction of a new president
Great things were happening outside of the exhibit hall, too. On Oct. 24, LaGrange, Ga. Chief Lou Dekmar was sworn in as president of IACP. Dekmar told an audience after being sworn in, “Since the late 1800s IACP has been the gold standard in training, leadership development and management models that are recognized and adopted throughout the law enforcement world. And as our issues continue to change, the opportunities that steer our profession continue as well.”
Dekmar went on to discuss the importance of public trust, stating, “Public trust has been the cornerstone of contemporary policing since 1829. In the past, some law enforcement agencies have been indifferent to civil rights in their quest to solve crimes, while others permitted the physical assault or murder of persons of a different race or ethnicity. Like everyone in this field, I am proud of my profession, but I recognize that these events represent our darkest hour.” Dekmar went on to announce a global trust-building initiative, the goal of which will be to provide support and resources for police leaders in order to engage with communities who carry “the mistrust of the past into the present.”
