Cops
”Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed
The cops in Canada seem to be getting the hang of the Taser business. Mounties summoned to a British Columbia hospital tased an octogenarian patient after he pulled a knife from his pocket. Eighty-two-year-old Frank Lasser, who was suffering from pneumonia and had been admitted to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, claimed that sometimes he got delusional when he got short of breath. Did that, however, make it right for the police to tase him, bro? More »DC Lawmaker Wants Cop Guns to Have Mini FPS Cameras
A lawmaker in Washington DC has intro'd a bill to the city council that would require all police service pistols to have mini cameras attached to the barrel, which would start rolling as soon as the gun is pulled out of the holster. The tech is already being tested in Orange County, NY. Ostensibly, it's to prevent bad shootings and prove officers acted in good faith, but really I can only think of how awesome an FPS cam would make Cops, like that one scene in the Doom movie, except with intoxicated perps instead of demons from Hell. If it works in DC, I could see this spreading to other police departments pretty quickly as a way to quell lawsuits and such. [NBC4 via The Register via CG]Microsoft COFEE Won't Perk You Up, But It Will Instamagically Hack Your Computer
You know how in cop shows they seize deviants' computers and bring them back to the lab for some good ol' latex gloved analysis to prove how obviously guilty or sick the suspect is? That's old hat. Microsoft's latest treat for law enforcement is COFEE (Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor), a USB drive that'll cut through whatever flimsy security miscreants have slapped on their computer in a flash, and then automatically analyze the dirty bits the cops need to bust their ass, from internet activity to stored data, no pwnage skillz or trips to the lab needed. Microsoft's giving the wonder tube to lawmen for free, and 2,000 officers in 15 countries are already using it. But will it work on Macs? [Seattle Times, Thanks M]E7 Cop Car of the Future Still Despises Batmobile
Carbon Motors would like to begin selling this made-to-order police vehicle to your local precinct. No, it's not just a fancily painted Dodge Charger. It's a car all on its own, the E7, made specifically for cops. And since it doesn't exist yet, ex-Ford employees at Carbon Motors are prepared to brag heavily about all the sweet new features:
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Osaka Police To Use Bunny-Shaped Police Lights, Send Fugitives Into Cute Overload
The Osaka Police Purchased 800 of these lights for use on special patrol cars that cruise through school zones. Pink Tentacle says these are made to win the hearts of school kids as the police chase bad guys. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think the NYPD would have the same luck rolling through a neighborhood like Bed-Stuy. [Pink Tentacle]
Beijing Polices the Internet with Cartoon Officers
These cartoon cops are Beijing's latest war on the worldwide web. The animated figures will either walk, drive or cycle across the screen of internet users, warning them not to visit illegal sites.
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Bobby.TV versus Justin.TV, as UK Police Get Helmet Cams
Following successful trials, British policemen are to be issued with head cameras while they are on the beat. The
3 million ($6.1 million) scheme, which led to an increase in the number of convictions of offenders when it was tried out in the southwestern town of Plymouth, is to be rolled out throughout the country.
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cellphones
Teacher Gets Busted After Texting Local Cops for Weed
Be careful what you send via text. Ann Greenfield, a 34-year old teacher in Kentucky, got screwed over after accidentally texting a state trooper and not her dealer for some marijuana. The cop texted her back, set up a meeting place, and when Greenfiled showed up, had an entire squad waiting for her. I've heard of drunk texting before, but sadly this was sober. Moral of the story: look before you text. More »
announcements
ShotSpotter Squeals on Criminals, Notifies Cops
Criminals in D.C. should think twice before unloading their gat on someone. The ShotSpotter is a tiny sensor that's been hidden throughout D.C. listening for gunshots and notifying 5-0 the second it hears them. The sensors are pretty small and can detect gunfire up to 2 miles away pinpointing where the shots were fired. They can even distinguish between gunshots and similar sounds like firecrackers. Cool idea, though we'd still prefer to see some bazooka-carrying robo vigilante. More »
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