Future of Policing

1103 Words5 Pages
Future of Policing Paper Laurie B. Vroman Fundamentals of Policing, CJS210 May 5, 2013 Professor Fisher Introduction One of the biggest changed in the history of policing is taking place every day. Technology changes more and more every day. Think about how often you upgrade your cellular phone because the one you have is no longer the latest and greatest. “Many police agencies use the internet to convey information to the public, use cell phones to communicate with others while in the field, and use mobile computers to instantly retrieve information” (Katz and Walker, 2011, pg. 501). Not only is technology changing but trends are changing as well, and they are affecting policing in a major way. Looking ahead, there are some foreseeable critical issues that may have an effect on policing in the future. Lastly, with all of the changes taking place, changes will need to be made to effectively address those critical issues. What Trends are Currently Affecting Policing? One of the biggest trends in the law enforcement field today is computers. Prior to computers in patrol cars, “…the only way for a supervisor or dispatcher to communicate with a police officer was through a call box or by mobile radio” (Katz and Walker, 2011, pg. 503). Computers have advanced so much and continue to change every day in order to keep up with the rest of the technology changes. Another trend currently affecting poling is the use of video cameras, both static as well as mobile. They have gone from stationary devices to motion sensing. Some cameras are black and white, while others are in color. Their ability to zoom in is far beyond the capabilities of the old cameras. Think about how handy the cameras were during the
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