With the recent release of the iPhone 8 and the soon-to-be released iPhone X, the use of smartphones by law enforcement in the field continues to grow. From being able to securely communicate with other officers to identifying hazardous material, apps can save officers time and resources, and sometimes lives. Here are nine apps that will benefit law enforcement professionals across all ranks:
While you may not have the time or resources to become fluent in Spanish, the Police Spanish Guide will help you overcome everyday language barriers and better serve the Spanish speakers in your community. From routine traffic stops to domestic disputes, the app allows officers to ask questions in yes/no format, so they can easily understand the response. In your free time, practice your Spanish with in-app flashcards.
Platform: Android
Price: Free
Wireless Information System for First Responders (WISER) helps first responders in hazardous materials situations. The app will help identify unknown chemicals or chemical syndromes and provide guidance on what to do to prevent further danger to lives and the environment. Produced by the National Library of Medicine at NIH, law enforcement can predict potential hazards with an interactive chemical reactivity database.
Platform: Android
Price: Free
With a black background and white text, the Police Miranda Warnings app helps officers read a suspect their Miranda Rights without having to fumble for the Miranda card, or a flashlight at night. The app features a Spanish version of the warnings and a link to Google translate if a suspect needs to be read their rights in any other language.
Platform: iPhone
Price: 99 cents
First Aid by American Red Cross
As a police officer, you might be the first responder on the scene of an accident where someone needs medical attention. The First Aid by American Red Cross app shows you how to treat injuries while waiting for EMS to arrive. The app will help you prepare for emergencies with quizzes and videos, and help you out in the field with an easy-to-use menu of what to do in common first aid situations, such as someone in anaphylactic shock.
Platform: iPhone
Price: Free
Created by a former police chief with input from current police officers, the BLUE App is an encrypted, confidential, and private communication network for law enforcement officials. This free app should be used in lieu of social media networks such as Facebook or Twitter. Users create their own encrypted communication “circles” (think: group messages), then invite police coworkers into the messaging circle. Each privatized communication circle can be named to reflect the subject matter of the group, such as “Patrol Team,” or “Area Chiefs.”
Platform: iPhone and Android
Price: Free
Find some suspicious looking pills during a routine traffic stop? Enter the imprint, shape, and color on the Drugs.com Medication Guide app to quickly identify whether or not it really is just ibuprofen. Check to see how different medications interact with other medications, alcohol, or food. The app also allows you to search by symptoms and side effects, to help determine what medications someone might be on.
Platform: iPhone and Android
Price: 99 cents for iPhone, free for Android
Developed by the Blue Alert Foundation, the Blue Alert National System helps law enforcement apprehend criminals who kill or seriously injure local, state, and federal law enforcement officials. The app connects to social media and aggregates news related to violent crimes against officers to quickly alert app users. The Blue Alert Foundation also helps the families of officers killed in the line of duty.
Platform: Android
Price: Free