Justice & Public Safety
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All the state’s points of entry should be covered by the watchful eye of an automatic license plate reader in the future, according to a State Bureau of Investigation report prepared for legislators. -
County commissioners advanced a deal to expand a network of automatic license plate readers under the sheriff’s control, after much debate. A pact for AI-fueled video cameras in the jail, however, got deferred.
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After the City Council voted not to renew a contract for the devices, two police officers threatened to quit. Residents spoke against the renewal and the motion failed on a 3-3 vote.
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The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has hired a vendor to aid in the transition to a new statewide 911 system. The 2028 Summer Olympics are expected to draw millions of visitors to the city.
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The device, known as the Grappler, is part grappling gun and part lasso, and it is installed on the front bumper of sheriff’s vehicles so it can be shot onto a fleeing suspect’s back tires.
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North Dakota officials now have access to Federal Aviation Administration radar data, which supports emergency response operations, infrastructure inspection, agricultural operations and more.
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Americans reported nearly $21 billion in cyber crime losses in 2025, and within that, more than 22,000 complaints were tied to artificial intelligence, totaling about $893 million in losses.
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The new real-time, AI-backed emergency call center translation tool could help residents and first responders, according to company executives. The World Cup also could play a role in growing the service.
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A new civil grand jury report details gaps in emergency radio coverage across Monterey County, raising concerns about communication failures during fires and other emergencies.
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The Drone as a First Responder program at Kairos Public Schools, funded through a state law enforcement grant, enables the Vacaville Police Department to deploy unmanned aerial drones to emergency calls.
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A unanimous City Council vote formalized letting the city and Jersey County share the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, and send emergency alerts to residents’ cellphones.
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Two bipartisan bills aimed at limiting warrantless access to Coloradans’ data by state government agencies have been defeated after both efforts crashed into stiff opposition from law enforcement.
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“Connect Charlotte,” an opt-in network that gives intelligence to city police, began last year. To date, more than 2,000 cameras have registered on its system, which integrates 1,363 business cameras.
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While Norwalk, Conn., Police Chief James Walsh said the city hasn't had "any negative experiences" while using automated license plate cameras, residents and city officials still raised concerns.
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The Los Angeles Police Department has increasingly come to rely on small, unmanned aerial vehicles since launching a "drone as a first responder" pilot program in July.
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Cumberland County, Pa., will receive about $107,000 in state government funding in order to purchase body camera equipment for the staff at the prison and at the sheriff’s office.
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The supplier of license plate readers and other public safety tech has come under fire for privacy, immigration, data sharing and other concerns. The new tool aims to ease some of the worries about Flock’s products.
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The Inland Empire city in Southern California is using mapping tools and other technology to help in wildfire reduction. The city fire department’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan is a template.
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Breakthrough surveillance capabilities — drones and license plate readers — have played a pivotal role in catching Colorado Springs’ criminals and keeping law-abiding citizens safe.
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Satellite collisions in orbit could trigger a catastrophic global chain reaction, potentially halting space exploration, destroying GPS and raising risks for aerospace sectors that support jobs.
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The City Council approved a six-year, nearly $1 million pact that will enable police to field the devices and obtain incident information before officers arrive on scene. The drones will likely cover dock areas.
