Public Technology Institute Law Enforcement Technology Priorities: National Survey Results

Over the summer of 2018, the Public Technology Institute conducted its fourth annual Law Enforcement Priorities National Survey among County Government Law Enforcement Agencies. The purpose of the survey is to develop a better understanding of the technology and management issues within local government law enforcement agencies. Topics covered in the survey include agency size and staffing, priority projects and initiatives, the use of body-worn cameras, Next Generation 911, and data sharing and communications.

Over the next five years, the highest priority for technology projects are as follows:

1. Radio communications
2. 911 upgrades (including text/data and video)
3. Mobile data
4. Information sharing or other multi-jurisdictional initiatives
5. Smart devices and public safety applications

In addition to these priorities, respondents to the survey also indicated interest in other areas, such as:

• How technology is used in the training environment
• If agencies are experimenting with virtual reality
• What pursuit technologies or non-lethal weapon technologies are being deployed
• A centralized records management system
• County wide data storage for body-worn camera data and video
• Officer hotspot integration

Funding is also an area of concern, but according to respondents, 43% have seen an increase in funding from 2017, while 42% saw similar levels of funding available to the previous year. More details on the survey results are summarized and presented in this PTI infographic. For vendors interested in this market, it may be worthwhile to note this data and plan accordingly for the upcoming years, as local government Law Enforcement Agencies may look to address and take action in these areas.

Source: PTI