Technology and Communication systems are critical equipment in the law enforcement profession.The rate of technological change in recent years is so fast that one could reasonably suggest that a mere few years from now, current technology will be substantially improved if not obsolete. Technology is constantly changing the way police departments operate in many ways. When I first started in EMS 20 years ago, I had intended to use dispatching as a gateway into policing (instead of Emergency Medicine.) Back then, Computer Aided Dispatching was ground breaking technology, GPS did not exist, tracking of units was done with paper, graphs, whiteboards and bulletin boards. Units would radio updates on their statusand postions, request back-up, request information on suspects and vehicles, and various other needs and communications. There were no ability to update a status via push of a button on computer installed in the unit, and all communication was based on a two way, trunkated radio system. Transmissions were recorded onto a cassete tape media, logged manually with pen and paper or entered by hand into a computer program. Cell phone technology existed, but was often too expensive too issue to each unit.The internet, today's wireless and digital capabilities, other improvments in technology, law enforcement personnel can share pictures of suspects, criminal records, bulletins, …show more content…
Today’s agencies are utilizing advances in technology to improve efficient utilization of resources as well as making it easier for officers and agency employees to do their jobs in a variety of ways. An additional benefit is that department personnel enjoy working with state-of-the-art equipment, which can boost morale.I can personally attest to being able to measure my own job satisfaction based on how well my equipment worked, and how up to date the technology available to me is (and