The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration proposed a rule change in August to open the skies to more drone flights beyond the sight of operators, seeking to replace the current cumbersome system of case-by-case authorization for such long-range use. This theoretically will allow more retailers and restaurants to deliver goods and food by drone. The problem…
Category: USA
Britanica: Police Brutality in the United States
Police brutality in the United States, the unwarranted or excessive and often illegal use of force against civilians by U.S. police officers. Forms of police brutality have ranged from assault and battery (e.g., beatings) to mayhem, torture, and murder. Some broader definitions of police brutality also encompass harassment (including false arrest), intimidation, and verbal abuse,…
New State Law Requires Additional Safeguards When Police Use Generative AI
Gov. Gavin Newsom this month signed a first-of-its-kind California law requiring police to disclose how they use generative artificial intelligence, a move aimed at boosting transparency and public trust. California is among the first states to address the issue. The reporting was cited in the legislative analysis of the bill that ultimately became the law. Senate Bill…
UMass Dartmouth Police Department Awarded $105,000 Grant to Advance Virtual Reality Crisis Response Training
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Police Department has been awarded $105,000 through the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (CIP), administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research (OGR). The funding will be used to implement the Street Smarts Virtual Reality (VR) training system to enhance officer preparedness in…
USA: West Midlands Police Use VR Training to Fight Crimes Against Women
Virtual reality technology is being used to train new police officers to provide an insight into male crimes against women. West Midlands Police has said it is the first force in the UK to partner with training provider Calico, to deliver the interactive sessions to 700 new recruits by April. Officers wear virtual reality headsets,…
USA: Kauaʻi Cops Are Using Virtual Reality to Boost Their Firearms Training
For Kauaʻi cops, getting in firearms practice has meant navigating a winding, unpaved access road to a remote, often muddy shooting range — an ordeal that, weather permitting, can take all day. Now a new solution powered by virtual reality is emerging: the Kauaʻi Police Department later this year plans to launch a small-footprint weapons…
Marlborough MA Police, Sheriff’s Office Team Up for Scenario-Based Training
Marlborough police officers recently completed interactive, scenario-based training using the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office’s Mobile Training Center, according to a community announcement. Fifty-six officers participated in the program. Training included a series of video-based scenarios that replicated real-life situations that officers may encounter during their shifts, according to the announcement. These included traffic stops, trespassing incidents…
Lindsey Piercy: UK Researcher Enhances Police De-Escalation Training with Immersive AI, VR Simulations
De-escalation training is a vital tool for police officers — helping to reduce the need for force and ensuring safer outcomes for everyone involved in a tense situation. Yet, navigating these high-pressure moments is far from simple. Stephen Ware, associate professor in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky,…
Den Moses: Bleeding blue: Why is the NYPD losing an average of 300 cops per month?
Law enforcement sources are sounding the alarm, charging that the NYPD is losing cops at record levels to other departments, not only leaving the city woefully unprotected but also driving other officers to the brink of retirement themselves. According to the latest August data obtained by amNewYork, the attrition rate of officers either retiring or…