Key Takeaways
- Emerging public‑safety tools such as license‑plate readers, real‑time crime centers, drones, and artificial intelligence enhance crime prevention and officer safety but often trigger public worries about privacy, transparency, and oversight.
- The technology itself is rarely the problem; how agencies introduce, govern, and communicate about it determines success or backlash.
- Effective implementation requires clear governance structures, proactive community engagement, and honest, jargon‑free explanations that build credibility.
- Law‑enforcement leaders must be ready to discuss capabilities and safeguards with city councils, community groups, the media, and residents, turning technical details into relatable benefits.
- Demonstrating accountability, transparency, and consistent leadership strengthens both public safety outcomes and community trust.
Webinar Overview and Purpose
Police1 is hosting a live webinar on Monday, July 27 at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT, 11 a.m. PT) that focuses on the responsible adoption of emerging public‑safety technologies. The session invites law‑enforcement chiefs, command staff, and policy makers to learn how to harness tools like license‑plate readers, real‑time crime centers, drones, and artificial intelligence while maintaining public confidence. Even if attendees cannot join the live event, registering guarantees they will receive a recording afterward, ensuring the insights remain accessible.
Why Successful Technologies Still Raise Concerns
Although innovations such as AI‑driven analytics and aerial surveillance can dramatically improve case clearance rates and officer safety, they frequently spark public unease. Citizens worry about mass surveillance, data misuse, and insufficient oversight, especially when agencies deploy new tools without clear policies or community input. The webinar will explore the root causes of these concerns, emphasizing that technology alone is not the issue; rather, the manner of its introduction and governance shapes public perception.
Governance, Introduction, and Communication Strategies
A central theme of the discussion is that successful technology rollout hinges on three pillars: robust governance, thoughtful introduction, and transparent communication. Agencies must establish clear policies governing data collection, retention, sharing, and auditing before any deployment. Likewise, introducing a new system should involve stakeholder meetings, pilot programs, and opportunities for feedback. Finally, ongoing communication—through town halls, social media, press releases, and regular updates—helps demystify the technology and demonstrates accountability.
Learning Objectives for Participants
Attendees will leave the webinar able to: (1) understand why even well‑intentioned public‑safety technologies can generate public concern; (2) identify governance and communication strategies that support successful implementation; (3) prepare for challenging conversations with city councils, community organizations, the media, and the general public; (4) explain emerging technologies in ways that are transparent, understandable, and credible; and (5) build public confidence through proactive leadership, accountability, and transparency. Each objective is designed to equip leaders with practical tools they can apply immediately in their jurisdictions.
Moderator: Ken Wallentine
Ken Wallentine, the webinar’s moderator, brings a wealth of experience, having recently retired as chief of the West Jordan (Utah) Police Department after serving as chief of law enforcement for the Utah Attorney General. Over three decades in public safety, Wallentine has cultivated expertise as a legal scholar and editor of Xiphos, a monthly national criminal‑procedure newsletter. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Institute for the Prevention of In‑Custody Death and works as a use‑of‑force consultant in state and federal litigation. His background ensures the discussion will be grounded in both operational reality and legal best practices.
Panelist: Lieutenant Brian Niec
Lieutenant Brian Niec of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has been with the agency since 2003 and became a crash‑reconstruction specialist in 2011. Since 2024 he has directed the Hamilton County Real Time Information Center—the nation’s first regional hub of its kind—overseeing technology implementation and planning. An ACTAR‑accredited crash reconstructionist, Niec has investigated complex fatal, commercial‑vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle collisions. Beyond his technical skills, he is a champion of officer wellness and mental‑health education, regularly teaching on collision investigation, evidence analysis, human factors, and stress resilience. His dual focus on technology and well‑being offers a unique perspective on balancing innovation with the human element of policing.
Panelist: Jason Potts
Jason Potts serves as president and co‑founding member of the American Society of Evidence‑Based Policing and as chief/director of the City of Las Vegas Department of Public Safety, which oversees law enforcement, detention, deputy city marshals, and animal protection. Potts began his career with the Vallejo Police Department, rising to captain, and holds a master’s degree in Criminology, Law, and Society from UC Irvine. He is an alumnus of the DOJ’s LEADS Program and a fellow of both the Future Policing Institute and the National Policing Institute. Recognized in 2019 with induction into George Mason University’s Evidence‑Based Policing Hall of Fame, Potts brings a strong record of promoting data‑driven, transparent policing practices.
Real‑World Lessons and Practical Application
The webinar will feature concrete examples from agencies that have successfully navigated the rollout of license‑plate readers, drones, AI analytics, and real‑time crime centers. Panelists will discuss how they established oversight committees, drafted clear use‑of‑data policies, engaged community advisory boards, and crafted messaging that clarified both capabilities and safeguards. By sharing what worked—and what did not—the session aims to give attendees a playbook for avoiding common pitfalls, such as insufficient training, lack of transparency, or failure to measure outcomes.
How to Participate
Interested parties can register instantly by clicking the “Register for this Police1 Webinar” box on the event page. Registrants receive login details for the live session and, if unable to attend, a link to the recording after the event concludes. The organizers encourage agencies to share the invitation with command staff, policy advisors, and community‑relations officers to maximize the impact of the lessons learned. By investing time in this discussion, leaders can better position their departments to adopt cutting‑edge tools while preserving the trust of the communities they serve.