Technology Isn’t the Strategy

We’re living in an era where new policing technologies seem to emerge almost weekly. Agencies are investing in license plate readers, cameras, analytics platforms, AI-driven tools, and more—often with the hope that technology itself will be the solution.

But technology isn’t the strategy.

The real question isn’t what we buy—it’s how we use it.

• Does this technology actually make our communities safer?

• Does it make officers safer?

• Does it help prevent harm—or does it simply help us respond faster after it’s already occurred?

Technology should never replace sound policing, officer judgment, or problem-solving. At its best, technology is a force multiplier—but only when officers understand the where, when, and why behind crime problems and use technology intentionally to address them.

When data informs decisions, technology becomes more focused, efficient, and effective. It helps identify patterns, prioritize resources, and support proactive crime prevention. When technology is used simply because it exists—or because funding was available—it rarely addresses the underlying conditions driving crime and is not a sustainable long-term plan.

Proactive policing isn’t about having the most tools. It’s about using the right tools, in the right places, at the right times, for the right reasons.

Technology doesn’t prevent crime—people do. Technology simply helps them do it better when used wisely.

Smarter policing. Safer communities.