Advances in technology that help the police

Technology has advanced by leaps and bounds, changing the way police officers do almost everything. Police didn't even have computers available at their stations, much less in their cars, before the millennium. From drones in the sky to bespectacled microcomputers, technological advancements abound in 2019 are advances in technology that help police.

Drones and Robots on Patrol
Critics decry them as harbingers of an Orwellian police state, while defenders point to the vast potential of drones and robots to solve and prevent crime. The fact is that drones have become eyes in the sky for law enforcement officials, and robots can get into places officers can't without risking injury or death.

Camera-equipped remote-controlled robots can investigate bomb threats and are excellent advances in technology that help police. They can climb steps and move just like a human would. Drones can capture video and images of crimes as they occur, providing crucial evidence in future court proceedings.

Google Glass, HoloLens and augmented reality
Imagine a foot patrol officer. The officer's special glasses are recording and analyzing everything on the street as it unfolds. An integrated display provides information on surrounding businesses, homes and vehicles, while facial recognition software provides real-time information on individuals.

Google Glass has made this scenario a reality. Facial recognition has been around since the dawn of the 21st century, and simple smartphone apps like Around Me can provide an augmented reality experience using the phone's camera.

portable lasers

Officers can check before they come into contact with anything questionable, and they'll have the answers they need long before a lab can test and issue a report. An excellent tool for advances in technology that help police

Social networks
Social media has created a frenzy of personal sharing. People talk about the importance of privacy, then purge themselves online, willingly sharing endless personal details via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other sites. They post what they are doing, thinking, or even eating at any given time.

Social media has proven to be a crucial criminal justice tool for law enforcement agencies, crime analysts, and even probation and community control officers. It helps them locate leads and even select candidates for employment.

There have been numerous cases of police foiling or solving crimes based on tips gleaned from Facebook posts, and undetected crimes have been successfully prosecuted as a result of videos posted on YouTube. An alleged Capital One hacker bragged about his exploits online and effectively led the FBI to his door in 2019.

While social media may seem like an "old hat" as a social and marketing platform, its potential as a crime-fighting tool is only just beginning to be realized.