This blog was originally published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police
New tools and law enforcement technology continues to emerge at an accelerated pace, promising to transform the ways law enforcement officers and agencies serve the public. From body-worn cameras and drones to AI-assisted dispatch and facial recognition tools, police agencies are often eager to adopt the latest gadget with the goal of improving safety, efficiency or outcomes. But diving in without a plan is just plain risky.
Before adopting new tech, law enforcement leaders must consider more than cost and capability. How could the technology be used — and potentially misused? What are the ethical, legal and practical consequences? What policy guardrails can ensure the tech helps more than it harms?
The following framework provides a useful approach to evaluating new technologies and building commonsense policies to guide their deployment.
1. Define Objectives and Scope
Every conversation about a new technology should begin with one question: What do we expect it to do? Are we trying to reduce use-of-force incidents? Increase clearance rates? Improve response times? Defining these goals helps assess whether a new tool is fit for purpose.
Next, define the scope of your evaluation. This includes not just the technology or its performance, but also its legal and tactical implications, ethical concerns, and how it might fit into existing operations. You’ll also need to identify stakeholders, making sure to consider everyone who will be impacted by the tool. This might include patrol officers, supervisors, dispatchers, investigators, records personnel, community liaisons — and members of the public.
Also, research how others are already using the technology. Start with real-world case studies from other agencies. Has the tech created unintended consequences elsewhere? Are there relevant laws, regulations or court decisions that should guide your implementation?
Finally, decide how you’ll define success. What metrics will you use to determine whether the technology meets its objectives?
2. Assess Potential Impacts
Once your purpose and scope are clear, it’s time to dive deeper into what deploying the technology might mean — good, bad or otherwise. Here are some considerations:
- Does the technology work as promised? Does it integrate with existing tools? Will it require infrastructure upgrades? Can the system be maintained over time?
- How expensive is the tool — not just in up-front expenditures, but also in long-term maintenance and training?
- Legal implications. Would using the tech affect how evidence is collected and presented? Could it unintentionally compromise prosecutions or trigger lawsuits? Does it have the potential to infringe on constitutional rights?
- Ethical considerations. Even well-intentioned tools can damage trust if they’re not deployed carefully. Could the technology reinforce bias? Violate privacy?
- Community impact. Will residents view the technology as a benefit or a threat? What concerns will your most vocal critics raise — and are any of those concerns valid?
Also, think beyond law enforcement: Could the tech create excessive waste, environmental harm or political tension? Broader impacts such as these shouldn’t be overlooked.
3. Analyze Risks and Opportunities
With all that in mind, it’s time to weigh potential benefits against likely risks.
Opportunities are generally what inspire police agencies to consider new law enforcement technology in the first place. But potential risks (especially unintended ones) must be clearly identified. These include potential for physical harm, increased liability, security risks or damaged community relations. Misuse by officers or even outside bad actors is another key concern.
For each risk, assess both the probability and potential severity. Is it relatively minor, or is it “high-risk, low-frequency” possibility? Make lists of pros and cons to shape a cost-benefit analysis that can help guide your decisions.
And don’t hesitate to ask the toughest question: What if we do nothing? In some cases, the risk of inaction — failing to modernize or equip officers — is greater than implementing something new. In other cases, the best plan might be watchful waiting. There’s often no downside to letting other agencies try out a new technology before you adopt it yourself.
Every conversation about a new law enforcement technology should begin with one question: What do we expect it to do?
4. Develop Policy Recommendations
If the decision is made to move forward with the new technology, it’s time to build guidelines to shape implementation.
- Establish rules of usage. Who can use the technology? Under what conditions? What training and permissions are required? Will there be exceptions for exigent circumstances?
- Control access. What permissions are needed for its safe use? You may need to create access logs and reporting to detect and deter misuse.
- Plan training and certification. Most new tools come with a learning curve. Identify the necessary training, who will deliver it, how often it will be refreshed and how proficiency will be measured.
- Update related policies. New tools often impact use-of-force protocols, reporting requirements, training standards and more. Make sure supporting procedures reflect those changes as well.
At the end of this step, you should have a comprehensive, well-drafted policy ready to be reviewed by stakeholders.
5. Review, Revise, Release
Even the best draft policy can benefit from fresh eyes. Start with an internal review. Share your proposed policy with supervisors, legal counsel, front-line users and possibly even union representatives. They may spot gaps or inconsistencies that improve the policy in the long run.
At the same time, it’s also crucial to solicit external input. Share your policy with city officials, county boards, and — where appropriate — civilian oversight groups. Their questions may help strengthen the policy and build public trust.
After incorporating feedback, make revisions. Policy development should be iterative and responsive, never rushed.
6. Implement, Monitor and Evaluate
When you’re finally ready, put the policy into action. Publish and distribute it throughout your agency. Train relevant staff, answer questions and ensure everyone understands the purpose and rules involved in using the new tool.
As the tech is integrated into your agency’s operations, be sure to track performance over time. Is it achieving the intended outcomes? Are there unexpected challenges? You’ll want to conduct regular evaluations — weekly at first, then monthly or quarterly as operations stabilize. Revisit your original success metrics: Has the tool delivered the results you anticipated?
Finally, share your findings. Transparency helps reinforce accountability and allows others to learn from your experiences (and your mistakes).
No Tech for Tech’s Sake
Emerging technology can offer real value to law enforcement agencies, but only when implemented with care. The important thing is measurable results, and not just having the latest shiny gadget. An open, methodical policy development process helps leaders evaluate not just what a tool can do, but also what it should do.
By setting clear objectives, assessing impacts, anticipating risks and building strong policies, agencies can make informed decisions that enhance public safety while protecting civil liberties. In today’s rapidly evolving environment, that balance is not just ideal — it’s essential.
Sound overwhelming? In truth, this process is time-consuming and beyond the capabilities of many agencies and their resources. The good news: Through our policy management system, Lexipol guides agencies in the adoption of technology-related policy, from developing the policy content to training personnel to monitoring new developments and providing additional updates.
