Police Technology

Running head: Police Technology

Police Technology

Kevin Jackson

Kaplan University

05/01/11

Often times police are looking to advancements in technology to enhance their ability to combat crime. The unfortunate part is that technology doesn’t keep up with law enforcement and criminals. Law enforcement is already equipped with cars, radios, computers, and firearms but is in desperate need of special technology. This paper identifies 3 specific technologies that are current and beneficial to the law enforcement mission.

In 1993, Rick Smith and his brother Tim began to investigate what they called "safer use of force option[s] for citizens and law enforcement." At their Scottsdale, Arizona facilities, the brothers worked with the "... original TASER inventor, Jack Cover" to develop a "non-firearm TASER electronic control device"(Ref. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taser). The Taser, since its inception, has been a powerful and persuasive tool for law enforcement. It has been recognized for keeping potential injuries to officers down when in arrest situations. In many cases it is used against aggressive and verbally non-compliant individuals. This benefits officers because it most often subdues the person long enough for an officer to apply arrest control tactics all while limiting risk of injury to the officer and/or suspect. Like any other law enforcement tool, if it is not used properly, it can be considered an overused and excessive force option. Taser development has been greatly advanced. The most recently developed Taser in 2011, the Taser X2, has been described as the most customer driven Taser device to date (Ref. www.PoliceOne.com). It features dual lasers, performance power magazines(up to 500 firings), weather proofing, self diagnostics, backup shot(recover from missed shots or engage multiple targets), warning arc, current metering(measures and accurately delivers the precise amount of current), and cross connect(provides 6 different dart...