Law enforcement agency representatives discuss their technology challenges and possible solutions during PTX roundtable.
Last month law enforcement leaders and technology personnel held one-on-one meetings with representatives from some of the market's leading technology companies at the first POLICE Technology eXchange (PTX).
Held Dec. 9 through 11 at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, AZ, PTX 2019 was a hosted buyer event where invited agency personnel ("delegates") met with technology companies ("supplier hosts") about products they are interested in buying.
PTX is not a trade show. It's a much more streamlined and compact event. PTX is "a small gathering by design," says POLICE Publisher Leslie Pfeiffer. "Because PTX is small it gives a diverse yet select group of law enforcement delegates and suppliers the opportunity to build unique relationships that will last long after PTX is over."
In addition to meeting with suppliers about technologies that can help their agencies overcome the challenges presented by contemporary policing, law enforcement agency delegates had an opportunity to network with colleagues at meals and other social gatherings.
During moderated roundtable discussions, the law enforcement professionals discussed such issues as: funding technology acquisitions, body camera concerns, digital evidence management, the implementation of drone programs, how technology can support recruiting and retention of officers, buying public safety software, the role of artificial intelligence in law enforcement technologies, and how technology is helping agencies investigate crime.
Keynote speakers for PTX 2019 included Rick Smith, CEO of Axon, and Jeri Williams, chief of the Phoenix Police Department. Smith appeared via an Avatar virtual presence system and spoke about technology trends in law enforcement and the overall technology market. Williams discussed how technology is being used to address specific challenges at the Phoenix PD. For example, the agency is working with Axon to link its computer-aided-dispatch system with its body-worn cameras. Williams said the agency plans to issue smartphones to officers, and it is using online training to maximize the hours that officers can stay on the street.
