Knowledge Management in Public Safety

I just read an article about the use of advanced technology in public safety in Nassau County, NY. Every car that comes into the village has its drivers license scanned. The increased use of technology in its security surveillance is linked to the police department's transition to an entirely paperless system. The article goes on to explain that officers are equipped with handheld devices that can scan license plates and instantly receive information pertaining to warrants. The Nassau County Police Department is eager to share its technology with neighboring departments. It can communicate with any other department that uses the same software. The police in Long Beach and Mamaroneck are the first to adapt to the new software.

So where am I going with this? I think the technology has the potential to provide useful information to police in neighborhoods of NYC that require constant surveillance. In Los Angeles, the police are familiar with the local gangs (so familiar that they know each member's name, date of initiation, and family affiliations). Understanding the community (and trying to relate to the members to gain their trust) helps alleviate problems in the neighborhood. This is particularly important in the neighborhood surrounding my campus (USC). I'm sure this same type of community understanding and awareness exists in NYC and can be improved with the use of handheld high-tech devices. Police can receive up-to-date information about gang members and easily store information about their connections and affiliations. Obviously there is some question of privacy here, but it at least has the potential to explore the idea of using handheld devices as a form of knowledge management in public safety.