Last month, a drone from Skyfire | AI was credited with saving a police officer’s life after a dramatic 2 a.m. traffic stop. Many statistics show that AI impacts billions of lives, but sometimes a story still hits me emotionally. Let me share what happened. Skyfire AI, an AI Fund portfolio company led by CEO Don Mathis, operates a public safety program in which drones function as first responders to 911 calls. Particularly when a police department is personnel-constrained, drones can save officers’ time while enhancing their situational awareness. For example, many burglar alarms are false alarms, maybe set off by moisture or an animal. Rather than sending a patrol officer to drive over to discover this, a drone can get there faster and determine if an officer is required at all. If the alarm is real, the drone can help officers understand the situation, the locations of any perpetrators, and how best to respond. In January, a Skyfire AI drone was returning to base after responding to a false alarm when the police dispatcher asked us to reroute it to help locate a patrol officer. The officer had radioed a few minutes earlier that he had pulled over a suspicious vehicle and had not been heard from since. The officer had stopped where two major highways intersect in a complex cloverleaf, and dispatch was unsure exactly where they were located. From the air, the drone rapidly located the officer and the driver of the vehicle he had pulled over, who it turned out had escaped from a local detention facility. Neither would have been visible from the road — they were fighting in a drainage ditch below the highway. Because of the complexity of the cloverleaf’s geometry, the watch officer (who coordinates police activities for the shift) later estimated it would have taken 5-7 minutes for an officer in a patrol car to find them. From the aerial footage, it appeared that the officer still had his radio, but was losing the fight and unable to reach it to call for help. Further, it looked like the assailant might gain control of his service weapon and use it against him. This was a dire and dangerous situation. Fortunately, because the drone had pinpointed the location of the officer and his assailant, dispatch was able to direct additional units to assist. The first arrived not in 5-7 minutes but in 45 seconds. Four more units arrived within minutes. The officers were able to take control of the situation and apprehend the driver, resulting in an arrest and, more important, a safe outcome for the officer. Subsequently, the watch officer said we’d probably saved the officer’s life. [Reach length limit; full text: https://lnkd.in/g3QdKp5Q ]
Advantages of Real-Time Policing
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Summary
Real-time policing utilizes advanced technologies like AI, drones, and real-time video streaming to improve law enforcement's ability to respond quickly and decisively to incidents. These tools provide instant situational awareness, enhance officer and public safety, and help optimize resource allocation, especially in resource-constrained scenarios.
- Deploy cutting-edge tools: Use drones and AI-powered systems to provide immediate intelligence, helping officers respond faster and reduce risks in critical situations.
- Enable proactive engagement: Integrate real-time video feeds and data analytics to identify and address incidents before they escalate, improving overall safety and resource management.
- Invest in training and transparency: Equip officers with the skills to operate new technologies while maintaining trust by implementing ethical guidelines and clear communication with the community.
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Law enforcement faces a critical choice: embrace AI and data science to improve public safety outcomes or risk saving fewer lives. Think about this: A gunshot rings out at 2:00 AM. The traditional process relies on someone hearing it, deciding to call 911, and trying to describe the location from inside their apartment without the benefit of being able to visually confirm the location. (That's assuming they call in the first place—as 80-90% of gunfire goes unreported.) Now imagine an AI-powered response with an audio-recording snippet of the incident. The digital process gives instant detection and the precise location of the gunshot. Officers can now respond minutes faster to the precise location versus driving around the neighborhood in circles. This isn’t science fiction - it's happening today. These AI-powered technologies transform police response and, as a result, save lives and capture and preserve evidence, which is critical in improving case closure rates. AI isn't replacing officers or human judgment either. AI prioritizes the effective use of limited resources where they need to be. Police departments struggling with staff shortages of 15-30% have a golden opportunity to alleviate some of this burden by leveraging AI. It's clear that AI and data science are transforming law enforcement’s ability to prevent crimes and protect communities. Be part of the solution and define the future of public safety. Give public safety leaders better tools to make faster, smarter decisions that save lives.
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𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐏 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 The integration of drones as first responders (#DFR), combined with cutting-edge Internet Protocol (IP) video technology, marks a new era in #publicsafety. This LiveU approach empowers #lawenforcement and #emergencyservices with real-time #situationalawareness, faster response times, and enhanced officer and public safety. - DFR: A Strategic Advantage By deploying Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) ahead of ground teams—especially during large-scale events or active incidents—agencies gain critical visual intelligence before arriving on scene. A key milestone is enabling Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, allowing drones to cover greater distances and deliver what can be called “quantum situational awareness.” LiveU's flagship IP bonded field encoder for Public Safety and #tactical teams is ready to go - simply plug in your video source (drone, security #camera, or crewed/uncrewed vehicle/ HH camera etc), and start transmitting real-time, secure and reliable video into your selected destination - anywhere at anytime Benefits include: - Rapid location of suspects or missing persons - Advanced scene assessment before human arrival - Reduced risk to officers - Smarter allocation of resources Enhancing Surveillance with LiveU IP Video & LiveU Technology is significantly more effective when monitored in real time. According to the UK College of Policing, actively monitored systems are 15% more effective at reducing crime compared to passive systems. By leveraging LiveU's secure IP video transmission platform: - Real-time crime centers and dispatch units gain precise, high-quality video streams - Field personnel receive live intelligence with low-latency and high-reliability, even in challenging environments. Situational awareness becomes immediate and actionable. Key Enablers for Successful Integration To fully realize the benefits of DFR and IP video streaming, agencies must: - Educate the Public: Build trust through transparency and responsible data use - Advocate for Policy Reform: Enable legal pathways for BVLOS and IP-based surveillance - Invest in #Training: Equip personnel to operate and interpret data while respecting privacy The Road Ahead Over the next decade, cities are expected to deploy drone “nests” on rooftops of fire stations and public buildings, creating a responsive, city-wide aerial network. But success will depend on forward-thinking leadership that embraces innovation, invests in emerging technologies like AI and quantum analytics, and fosters a culture of adaptability. - Visionary public safety leaders must stay several steps ahead—not just one—to safeguard communities in a fast-changing world. CBRNE & CT ATLANTIC BRIDGE (CAB) FIFA World Cup 26™ New York New Jersey #uas #drones #firtresponder #cbrn #cbrne