Technology was front and center at the 120th Annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference in Philadelphia this month with hundreds of exhibitors demonstrating wares from comms equipment and investigative resources to helicopters and mobile command centers. Visionations was there demonstrating CrimePad, the Future of Crime Scene Management. We had engaging discussions with law enforcement and crime lab personnel from coast to coast. In some cases, information technology (IT) personnel came by the booth and then came back again with enforcement or crime lab personnel. In other cases, the initial contact was with investigative or crime scene personnel and they often came back with their IT staff. Some who came to the booth were already using iOS technology. Others were looking to make the business case to make that move.
What they all had in common was an interest in harnessing the power of mobile technology to do their jobs more efficiently or effectively. It is clear many departments that are not yet fully mobile enabled are working to make that transition. Those that are already using mobile apps are continuously looking for new and innovative ways to increase the penetration of use across more law enforcement functions.
This is consistent with the findings of the 2013 IACP cloud and social media surveys – over half of all department in the cloud survey said they were already using or planning to use cloud technology and 96% of departments surveyed use social media for one or more purposes.
Mobile is the future and the future is here – it is a question of when and not if. What is your department or agency doing to join the future?