by BN Frank, Activist Post:
In addition to its use of controversial facial-recognition technology, New York City police have plans to get even more “high tech”. It appears to be another move along the path to ensure that “Big Brother is protecting you”, as Mayor Adams said recently.
From Gov Tech:
TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/
NYPD Patrol Cars Will Be Getting a High-Tech Makeover
Department officials this week announced the upcoming changes to their patrol vehicles at the annual State of the NYPD breakfast. New tech additions will include 360-degree cameras and QR codes the public can use to contact the department.
Rocco Parascandola, Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News
(TNS) — The classic NYPD police car is getting a RoboCop-style reboot.
The department is in the process of redesigning its fleet of patrol vehicles, which will now have 360-degree cameras installed in them for constant monitoring of the streets, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said Wednesday.
The city’s top cop made her announcement during the department’s annual State of the NYPD breakfast in Midtown hosted by the New York City Police Foundation.
“The NYPD RMP is iconic,” Sewell said during her remarks. “We are exploring potential design changes as we speak.”
RMP stands for radio motor patrol, a name coined decades ago still often used for marked NYPD vehicles.
While the design hasn’t been finalized, Sewell showed a brief video of the new vehicle, which will have a green stripe running down the side that connects to the 100-year-old NYPD flag.
Each car will also have a QR code printed on the outside of the vehicle that the public can scan and connect to the NYPD’s websites.
Sewell said the new design will “ensure the safety of our officers, have a QR code to improve customer service and a revamped interior for more efficient and comfortable work environment for our officers.”
New all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E Sport Crossover Utility Vehicles, which were shown off at last year’s New York Auto Show, are among the models expected to take the place of the four-door “police interceptor” as the NYPD gradually retires its traditional sedan-based fleet.
The department’s 2023 Strategic Plan includes diversifying the workforce, providing better training, enhancing relationships with the public, furthering neighborhood policing and “promoting public safety and respect.”
“We must remain open of heart and mind to truly adopt this step-forward philosophy since, at its core, it requires us to never stop innovating,” Sewell said at the breakfast at Cipriani 42nd St. “We can never accept what we have as final and we must always strive to exceed expectations.”
Afterward, she told reporters there are no plans to expand the department’s use of facial recognition technology, a question raised with the announcement of another initiative — an “augmented reality” app.
That app will allow police officers to point their smartphones at a location, such as an apartment building, and learn about things like wanted suspects or previous 911 calls connected to the address. Such information is currently available to cops but takes time to get.
“Augmented reality,” Sewell said, “will help our officers better visualize that data.”
