Introduction
Technology has proven to be very useful in law enforcement as in any other practical field. But as crime fighters and their allies work out solutions to develop and evolve further, crimes that are committed using technology or thwart law enforcement also advances, thereby allowing a stalemate situation where public safety is compromised.
This paper shall try to examine the role of Technology in law enforcement as a strategic capability and prepare a set of recommendations to use technology in order to make the organization a High-Performance organization focussing on biometrics and robotics.
Discussion
Biometrics
It is clearly acknowledged that information technology, basically computer-based recordkeeping and dispatching, when introduced into the police organization, is a material resource aiding a speedy investigation and solution. The involvement of the concept of “Biometrics” and law enforcement was intertwined as its conception has been used primarily for crime recording, validation of identity, and determination of individuals who have the right to be protected from offenders. Biometrics technology has been developed from the past and is still rapidly being developed up to the present. Although Biometrics apparently had been used earlier to identify newly born or children, and later on lawbreakers, modern biometrics is closely associated with the use of law and legal matters. But identity authentication had been the more prevalent purpose.
Starting in the 1980s until today, Biometrics developed from a single method of fingerprinting to more than ten discreet methods. There are hundreds of companies now involved with new methods that continue improving their system and technology (NCSC, 2006).
Biometrics was defined as “the development of statistical and mathematical methods applicable to data analysis problems in the biological sciences,” (NCSC, 2006) used primarily for authentication. It is derived from the Greek words “bio” meaning life and “metric” which means to measure. In its current use, biometrics refers to technologies for measuring and analyzing the physiological or behavioral characteristics of a person such as fingerprints, voice patterns, facial patterns, eye retinas or irises, and hand measurement with the purpose of verifying identification so that technically, use of biometrics is for identification and verification (NCSC, 2006). As the NCSC (2006) provided, “Biometrics are used in two major ways: Identification and Verification.
To date, laws and government agencies have incorporated the use of biometrics in their identification and security systems (Hunter, 2006). This involves the use of slim biometric chips in passports that the US government hopes to deter terrorists. This has been viewed to need multiple costs as there is not an integrated approach to the use of biometric technologies of the 27 countries the US required to in lieu of visas as it adds up to the complexity of passport checking. Biometrics could also ease up tracking of criminal elements at the speed of light due to its growing popularity in the financial cards sector, commercial services, as well as entry-level point of destinations.
Robots
The Associated Press reported 92004) that in times when police officers at Lane County, Eugene, Oregon police encountered dangerous situations such as going through the ‘fatal funnel” or a doorway into a house or room where an unseen gunman could shoot them down before they’ve had a chance to get their bearings, they can turn to Big Jim, a squat, 350-pound robot that has eyes, ears, a weapon and plenty of dexterity that amounts to he estimated $120,000 per unit. Big Jim and his like have been called to respond when a Springfield police faced a despondent armed killer identified as Tomas Ortega-Benitez, who shot his ex-wife firing off rounds that hit one officer’s gun belt and endangered a neighborhood.
The dispatch records showed that the machine was inside the duplex by 7 p.m. “standing by” near a bathroom and that by 7:10 p.m. the SWAT team was entering the building. Eugene police bought it in 2001 to replace a smaller, less-agile unit used in a tricky encounter in 2000. The mini Andros apparently was not capable of defusing the bombs encountered during that time which placed officers at risk. Already, it was reported that the bomb squad gets called out about 100 times a year and uses the robot on about 60% of those calls (AP, 2004). The robot also helps out in standoffs equipped with four cameras and a microphone, allowing officers to see, hear and talk to suspects and victims. In addition, it can move chairs, tables, or other barricades, pull an injured person to safety, deliver a cell phone to a suspect to aid negotiations. But most of all, the robot is armed, capable of shooting a range of ammunition including rubber bullets and shotgun shells, and lobs tear gas. It was established that the bomb squad provides the robot to any police agency in Lane County (AP, 2004).
Simulation Technology
Simulation Technology for Law Enforcement
Simulation technology enhances the objective of allowing law enforcement personnel to gain experience with a breadth of social interactions characteristic of those encountered by law enforcement. Simulation-based trainers provide a wide gambit with fully immersive virtual reality, using head-mounted displays and bodysuits at one end and text-based systems presented on a desktop computer at the other.
Technical capabilities of existing notional simulator trainer include a three-dimensional computer graphic representation of a variety of residential, commercial, industrial, and other settings with an ability to naturally move about, look around, and direct actions such as aim a firearm, or point; a variety of computer graphic representations of human figures that move naturally, display appropriate gestures and expressions and exhibit realistic patterns of speech; and a capability for the trainee to speak naturally and the simulator to comprehend that speech and direct the behavior of simulated humans accordingly.
Current research and development for creating highly realistic simulated humans process cues and interpret situations in a manner consistent with decision-making processes, presenting a computer-based entity human-like at the level of its most basic cognitive operations. This will definitely enhance further skills of human law enforcers on training as automatically, guides for alternative actions become available upon processing of cues gathered.
Conclusion
In view of the above developments, technology certainly has proven its worth in crime prevention and solution. Continuous development promise more practical and achievable solutions that were previously were un-chartered. I would recommend for use of technology in order to make the organization a High-Performance organization focussing on biometrics and robotics as:
- A unified as well as the integrated use of biometrics technology in high-security areas and web-based information access, sharing of data, and solution of cases. This will facilitate speedier sharing and communication, compatible and seamless networking, as well as finding a solution to crime problems.
- Mass development of robots for use in the field, encounters, and actual crime scenes to aid, provide invaluable assistance as described earlier, and a wider as well as more serviced populace who need not sacrifice another private individual and even police officers.
- The use of simulator trainers could enhance massive training and skills development of human law enforcers making them more alert as well as recognize alternative actions in the field.
References
Associated Press (AP) (2004). “Police robot hands officers advantage in touchy situations”. USA Today.
National Center for State Courts (NCSC). (2002) “AN OVERVIEW OF BIOMETRICS”. E-Court Conference 2002.
Organizational Behavior. Schermerhorn et al. (2005). (9th edition). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. ISBN: 0471681709.
Robotic Nation Evidence. Web.