NCJ Number
222386
Journal
Law EnforcementTechnology Volume: 35 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2008 Pages: 52,54,57
Date Published
February 2008
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article provides an overview of Centre Island Police Department's (CIPD's) use of technology to maximize the security-friendly features of its geography.
Abstract
Centre Island contains multi-million-dollar homes owned by celebrities and well-heeled corporate executives providing security challenges for law enforcement. Centre Island’s affluence extends to its police department; CIPD is well-funded, well-staffed, and well-equipped, maintaining a sophisticated, high-tech surveillance system that includes state-of-the-art mobile records management software. Redundancies built into CIPD’s technology provide backup and the department has structured its programs to include a combination of state-of-the-art technology and best-practices law enforcement management. In addition to laptops in its cruisers, CIPD also uses digital photography, TASER, night vision, Bluetooth scanning, and license plate reading technologies in addition to traditional law enforcement weapons such as batons, OC spray, and firearms. The law enforcement and security technology employed throughout Centre Island works in tandem with traditional law enforcement techniques, and each strengthens the other. In the event of a technology malfunction, the agency’s speed and efficiency might be compromised, but safety would still be maintained. CIPD’s leadership believes that the inherent danger is for law enforcement not to advance technologically; officers not having fingertip access to all the data-mining capacity are detrimental to law enforcement and the public at large.