How Technology Has Changed Policing Since the implementation of the two-way radio back in the 1930’s, technology has rapidly changed policing in many ways. There have been so many groundbreaking technological advances in policing which are usually advantageous to officers. First, it was motorized patrol which increased response time. Next, the two way radio which made it game changing for preventative patrol, because officer can quickly get word from the station when they are notified of a crime and can be there quickly. Also, some of the newer technologies are also very significant as well, such as DNA testing and video surveillance. All of these things have shaped the roles that present day police officers have. When it comes to technology there are so many different way that it effects policing, but three of the biggest topics are, technological advancements in the late 20th and early 21st century, the use of technology to deter and prevent crime, and how technology impacts police culture, organizational structure, and management.
Over the last thirty to forty technology in policing has increased to a level thought unimaginable fifty years ago. One of the most important pieces of technology that has really developed, is the collection of information in databases around the country at the hand of any officer at any time. With all this information that an officer has readily at use it can make the job not just easier but safer. If an officer pulls someone over just by acquiring an ID the officer can figure out if the driver has a warrant for his arrest or if his rap sheet is clean, that knowledge can really affect how an officer approaches a situation. Information technology is one of the most important aspects of policing technology because it really affects policing from top to bottom. Crime analysis over the past decade has become much more prevalent