In an evolving landscape of crime fighting, Buffalo Police are adopting a range of pioneering technology to enhance law enforcement capabilities in the year 2025. The cutting-edge tech tools are not just for experiential learning; they have in fact been deployed to respond to real-time crisis situations.
The department recently had the opportunity to put their new tethered drone technology into action. The drone, equipped to help search for a vulnerable individual, had its first field test under unexpected emergency conditions. A patient had disappeared from the Mercy Hospital in South Buffalo on December 20, necessitating quick and efficient search measures.
Amazingly, the drone had only arrived at the police department just 12 hours prior to the call about the missing patient. Within a short timeframe, the drone was deployed into the field, showcasing the department’s quick adaptation and readiness to implement new technology when needed.
With newfound efficiency, the deployed drone utilized its infrared scanning capabilities to scan for the missing individual. In just a few moments, the drone’s infrared technology detected an anomaly. This was instrumental in the swift location of the missing person, signifying a heat source that stood out amidst the wintry conditions.
This infrared detection guided one of the trained drone operators to navigate directly to the identified anomaly. There, they found the missing individual, who was just starting to be obscured by snowfall. This successful operation demonstrated the potential life-saving capabilities of the new technology.
In another technological leap forward, the Buffalo Common Council has sanctioned the police department to enter into a transaction with Dataminr. Dataminr is a sophisticated AI-assisted data collection instrument that sifts through internet content and social media platforms, searching for real-time crime activity.
Dataminr operates by examining open-source material, limiting its scope to publicly available data. This includes posts made by individuals or organizations that can help the police intercept ongoing criminal activities. Hence, ensuring that the tool respects privacy concerns and doesn’t infrive on personal data.
Moreover, Buffalo Police is set to incorporate a system supplied by Axon, a noted provider of body-worn cameras for law enforcement. Axon’s novel platform sends videos straight from community-linked cameras, and other sources to the police officers present at the incident’s location, enabling real-time situation assessment.
The new approach, designating a two-way stream of information, opens pathways for more streamlined communication between public citizens and the police department. Through Axon’s platform, video documentation of occurrences can be forwarded to the law enforcement unit, granting them access to critical perspective and context.
The officers on the ground, equipped with immediate video feeds, can approach the situation with a pre-emptive understanding based on the shared visuals. This tool is set to enhance situational comprehension and response effectiveness, allowing officers to arrive on the scene with a degree of preparedness.
Fears of these technological advancements leading to an overextended city budget have been assuaged. New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services has generously provided a grant to the Buffalo Police Department. This grant covers the acquisition and implementation costs of these state-of-the-art technologies.
The grant ensures that the exercise of introducing such technological advancements to the city’s law enforcement does not burden the city’s budget. Thus, the economic considerations of the city of Buffalo remain unaffected by the technological evolution of its Police Department, allowing them to keep up with crime-fighting trends at no extra cost.
As the scenic city of Buffalo strides forward into the year 2025, its guardians of law and order are armed with progressive and innovative technology. With tools that maximize efficiency, save lives, and improve the relationship between the police and their community, Buffalo’s police officers stand ready to protect the city in new and improved ways.
From utilizing AI applications in identifying ongoing crimes to incorporating drones with infrared tech for search and rescue, Buffalo Police is echoing the global trend of law enforcement agencies adopting tech advancements. As they continue to adopt new technology, the core aim remains: to serve and protect Buffalo’s community with the utmost efficiency.