The most important item for purchase would be the In-car camera systems. Based on the recent reports of alleged racial profiling, excessive use of force by police and increased cases of violence against police, there is need for more openness in police operations to improve safety and restore public confidence in the police service. Even though there are a few cars already fitted with cameras, it would be greatly beneficial to have every police car fitted with cameras to realize all round coverage in every undertaking. In-car camera systems have been seen to be beneficial in ensuring safety of officers, improving professionalism, enhancing internal control of the agency, improving community perception, improving procedures and protocol, enhancing police training and education, and helping with the judicial process(Westphal, 2004).
According to research conducted by International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), statics gathered indicated that,77% of officers feel that cameras have improved training, 54% of the public interviewed said that their perception of the police has improved and “33% of the officers reported in the survey that the use of the cameras caused them to feel safer on the job,” (IACP, 2004 p. 24). This shows the remarkable impact of this device on policing. It would therefore be an invaluable addition to the department.
The two items that I would forego from the list are new and standardized firearms for all officers and biometric software. The current firearms used by the police are of relatively modern technology and can serve well without the need for an upgrade for the whole department. On the other hand, while the biometric software would aid investigation and speed it up, these services can be obtained from other law enforcement agencies; for the meantime, the department can benefit from continued agency cooperation.
References
IACP,. (2004). The Impact of Video Evidence on Modern Policing. Retrieved 8 February 2016, from https://www.bja.gov/bwc/pdfs/IACPIn-CarCameraReport.pdf
Westphal, L. (2004). The in-car camera: Value and impact. PoliceOne. Retrieved 8 February 2016, from https://www.policeone.com/police-products/police technology/articles/93475-The-in-car-camera-Value-and-impact/
