Technologies That Are Transforming Law Enforcement

Police are critical to keeping us safe when disasters strike, and that importance will only grow as climate change forces more emergencies. By the middle of the century, California’s Olimson Institute estimates that 75 percent of US police officers will be employed in urban areas. The big cities that house them are likely to become even less hospitable in coming years, as rising temperatures and sea levels force residents inland.

The urgency of these challenges has prompted some designers to  encourage communities to become more self-sufficient during crises , but that’s unlikely to be feasible for cities that cannot even keep themselves in power or water today. In such a highly disrupted future, police will remain critically important for keeping civilian safety and maintaining order.

As difficult as the job is today, it’s likely to get more so in the future. Even high-end smart glasses and body cameras are no match for the powers of human augmentation and sensory enhancement that science  fiction has long anticipated . Yet equipment isn’t the only limitation. Many police academies only accept applicants with high physical fitness scores, but research has shown that officers’ mental health also plays a key role in whether they survive a crisis. Specifically, PTSD and depression undermine an officer’s ability to keep themself—and others—safe.

Since crisis situations are unpredictable, police need tools like Police App and strategies for law enforcement. Given the difficulty of changing the culture of police departments, an outside perspective may  be necessary to drive change . While psychology researchers can offer knowledge and advice, police leaders will decide whether to listen.

Whatever the outcome of these discussions, police need support in combatting mental illness, both from within their own ranks and from the communities they serve. To serve those who serve us, let’s join psychologists and policymakers in supporting officers , provide resources to families , and advocate for more mental health funding for police and law enforcements students.

The Police Officer’s New Tool : UCP Police App

UCP Police App make it easy for the police to communicate with its citizens using an easy-to-use mobile police app for both iOS & for android. It is a new way sheriff or police departments can broadcast critical information to citizens to create safer neighborhoods.