We asked some of our readers about improvements they made within their departments this year as well as what new directions their respective agencies are headed in 2020. This piece covers everything from new technology purchased to critical crime issues that departments recognize the necessity to address. We hope this piece gives your department insight and ideas on how to overcome challenges and improve productivity within your department.
Chief William Harvey,
Ephrata (PA) Police Department
Q: What are the critical issues in your jurisdiction?
A: Drugs (methamphetamine use is among the largest issue.) Also, the impact on larceny and theft is up around 95%, related to substance abuse and addiction.
Q: What technology or product has been the biggest impact from 2019?
A: UAS/ Drones-from W. S. Darley-we now have three pilots.
They most recently purchased a Matrice 210 version 2 and a Zenmuse Z30 zoom camera, XT2 Thermal dual camera and X5S high resolution video camera (interchangeable lens).
Q: Where/what are you planning to focus budget on for the upcoming year?
A: Replacement of the entire fleet.
Q: How do you see law enforcement changing for the coming years?
A: Over-reliance on technology to where we will need to have an IT support person within even the smaller/medium sized departments.
Q: What positives are coming out of your department?
A: Younger personnel are very high tech and accustomed to working with technology and very good with learning/adapting this to all tasks.
The department intends to equip their drone operators with the ability to deploy in a variety of situations and to do so quickly. Additional training would be implemented for this purpose even having drones deployed with officers working the street on a daily basis.
Chief Bret Smith,
Canby (NC) Police Department
Q: What are the critical issues in your jurisdiction?
A: Maintaining staffing levels; identifying qualified candidates to hire; acquiring the appropriate funding and support to keep up with the desired staffing levels (in proportion to city growth and increased calls for emergency services); remain current with new technology advancements (the cost of technology in the form of equipment, software, annual program fees are expensive).
Q: What technology or product has been the biggest impact from 2019?
A: Acquiring a new case management and computer aided dispatch (CAD), (TriTech Software), system and the replacement and upgrade of a new radio system.
Q: Where/what are you planning to focus budget on for the upcoming year?
A: Increase the number of sworn police officer positions to reflect the city’s growth and the increased calls for emergency services.
Q: How do you see law enforcement changing for the coming years?
A: Continue to focus on community oriented policing that includes adapting to new levels of transparency and to use new technologies that assist us in our ability to do our job and to do our job in a safer manner.
Q: What positives are coming out of your department?
A: Police officers have made increased efforts to build positive relationships with community members, which has resulted in better trust and transparency for all involved. This has promoted strong city (elected officials) and community support which has helped to create positive public perceptions of the police. In part, due to the police and community interaction, this public perception may be the result of demonstrated competency, professionalism, and ability, in the way police officers perform their jobs. Also, effective community oriented policing (engaged/involved police and community interaction) which has resulted in being listed in the top 10 safest cities in the state for multiple consecutive years. We would also like our police department to grow where the personnel can be a more reflective part of our community. We are a police department that is developing a culture with more “widely shared attitudes, values, and norms” than in prior years. The department will benefit from a positive portrayal of police by local media outlets due to the listed above outcomes. This has helped to reinforce confidence in police and police legitimacy.
Sheriff Michael Schmidtknecht,
Buffalo County (WI) Sheriff’s Department
Q: What are the critical issues in your jurisdiction?
A: Currently there are two. First is the ever present and expanding issue with drugs, specifically methamphetamine. The other issue is mental illness. Sometimes these go hand in hand and are related to each other.
Q: What technology or product has been the biggest impact from 2019?
A: Squad and body cameras is the biggest impact from 2019.
Q: Where/what are you planning to focus budget on for the upcoming year?
A: The IT budget for 2020 is a major factor for technology this coming year. With the demise of Windows 7 at this years end we are looking at an increase to our IT budget.
Q: How do you see law enforcement changing for the coming years?
A: The changing years will be a shift on how we recruit new staff. We have been finding it harder to find and retain quality individuals in this field. The challenge on how to appeal to someone to work nights, weekends and holidays as well as the disrespect from many individuals in the public. It is hard to find qualified people to meet this challenge. Do we lower our standards?
Q: What positives are coming out of your department?
A: The positive is connecting with our citizens through community events. We are finding that they are wanting our presence at their gatherings!
Department needs and priorities change not only from year to year but month to month. By looking at the previous year, agencies can assess where they can improve in the year ahead in order to better serve their communities.
Comment below. How is your agency handling its critical issues?
Hilary Rodela
Hilary Rodela is currently a Surveillance Officer, a former Private Investigator, a former Crime Scene Investigator, and Evidence Technician. She worked for the Ruidoso (NM) Police Department as well as the Lubbock (TX) Police Department. She has written for several public safety publications and has extensive law enforcement and forensic training and is pursuing forensic expertise in various disciplines. Hilary is a freelance public safety writer and curriculum developer for the National Investigative Training Academy.
