Police and Security Technology

05/09/22 • 35 min

Technology is transforming policing and security in America. Technology has been a fixture policing for many years – CAD/RMS, crime labs, and radio communication have made important contributions to improving efficiency. Over the past 25 years the use of technology dramatically expanded its reach and at a pace that has been difficult to keep up with. A recent PER/RTI study indicates that 70% of agencies are using in-car cameras, 68% information sharing platforms, over a third use body cameras, cell phone tracking and investigative management systems. 81% of agencies with more than 250 officers are using GIS and 70% use ALPRs. Agencies also reported that they planned to use predictive analytics software, acquire body worn cameras, next generation 911 and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Axon CEO and Founder Rick Smith join us today. A pioneer of technology with the vision of making the bullet obsolete, Rick founded the original company, TASER, in 1993. As the TASER device became ubiquitous in law enforcement, Rick pushed the company beyond weapons technology and towards a broader purpose of matching technology to public safety needs to make the world a safer place. Rick was winner of the Ernst and Young 2002 Entrepreneur of the Year. Rick graduated from Harvard with a B.S. in Neuroscience (Cum Laude) and later earned a master’s degree in international finance from the University of Leuven in Belgium and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Rick is also the author of The End of Killing – a book that outlines his vision for making the bullet obsolete.

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Translational Criminology - Dr. Thomas Blomberg

In this episode we talk with Dr. Thomas Blomberg, Dean and Sheldon L. Messinger Professor of Criminology at the Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. He has been a national leader in the field of criminology and a longtime advocate of translational criminology. In fact, the College’s brand “Research Brought to Life” that conveys a vision of striving to provide cutting edge research and teaching that ultimately contributes to improving society. In recent years he has begun to focus on the impact of politics on the adoption of evidence-based policy and practice.

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Charles Ramsey: Co-Chair President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing

Police Reform has been the topic of passionate debate across America since the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown by a Ferguson, Missouri police officer. Over the years other incidents such as the horrific killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis officer have fueled the debate on the steps police should take to ensure equity in the treatment of all members of the community.
In this episode we talk with Charles Ramsey about his career in policing, accomplishments of the President’s Task Force, his thoughts on police reform and recent gun legislation and his work with the MCCA Police Executive Leadership Institute.
He began his career with the Chicago Police Department in 1968 as an 18-year-old cadet. He quickly rose through the ranks as he served in a variety of position. He was a key champion of community policing a led the efforts to implement it in the CPD. He left the CPD in 1998 to take the Chief’s job in Washington Metropolitan PD where he would serve with distinction for nine years. He then took the Commissioner’s job in Philadelphia where he served for eight years. He served as the President of both the MCCA and PERF at the same time. In December 2014 President Obama asked him to co-chair the Task Force on 21st Century Policing. He has been one of the most well-respected national leaders in policing over the past 25 years.