When many of us began our careers in public safety, the equipment available to first responders looked much different than what we see today. We depended on a radio, a flashlight, a paper map, handwritten reports and most importantly, the people working beside us. If you needed information, you called dispatch. If you needed directions, you knew the roads or pulled out a map. If another officer needed help, you listened to the radio and responded.

Those tools served us well, but technology has changed tremendously. Today's first responders have access to equipment that we could only have imagined earlier in our careers. The purpose, however, remains the same: give our personnel the tools they need to safely and effectively serve their communities.

From Basic Equipment to Real-Time Information

Consider how much the patrol vehicle has changed. Years ago, the radio was often our primary connection to the outside world. Today, a patrol vehicle may contain a mobile computer, GPS, in-car and body-worn camera systems, automated license plate reader technology and immediate access to criminal justice information.

Communications have also advanced. Modern radio systems, computer-aided dispatch, GPS location information and mobile data allow dispatchers, supervisors, law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel to share information faster than ever before. That information can be critical when seconds matter.

Seeing What We Could Not See Before

One of the biggest advancements in public safety has been our ability to see situations before placing personnel directly into them.

Thermal imaging has helped firefighters locate people in smoke-filled buildings and identify hidden fire conditions. Law enforcement can use thermal technology during searches for missing persons or suspects. Search-and-rescue teams can cover areas that once required large numbers of personnel and many hours to search.

Unmanned aircraft systems, commonly called drones, have expanded those capabilities even further. Drones can assist with missing persons, search and rescue, accident reconstruction, disaster assessment, tactical situations, crime scenes, fires and other emergencies.

In certain situations, we can now put technology into a dangerous environment before we put a person into that environment. That is an important change in public safety.

Technology Is Becoming Connected

Today, we are moving beyond individual pieces of equipment and toward systems that work together.

Body-worn cameras, drones, automated license plate readers, real-time crime centers, mapping systems, cameras, sensors and computer-aided dispatch information can provide decision-makers with a much more complete picture of what is happening.

A supervisor may be miles away from an incident and still receive information that helps personnel make better decisions. Emergency management officials can view damage following a disaster. Fire departments can use thermal imaging to evaluate a structure. Law enforcement can use a drone to provide an overhead view during a search or critical incident.

The goal should never be technology for the sake of technology. The goal is better information that allows our people to make better decisions.

The Best Piece of Equipment Is Still the Person Using It

As impressive as today's technology is, we cannot forget something important: equipment does not replace people.

A drone cannot replace an experienced officer. A body camera cannot replace good judgment. Artificial intelligence cannot replace leadership. A computer cannot replace communication with the community.

Technology is only as effective as the person operating it and the policies, training and leadership supporting its use.

Agencies should carefully evaluate new equipment by asking some basic questions: Does it improve safety? Does it make us more effective? Does it solve an actual problem? Are our personnel properly trained to use it? Can we afford to maintain it? And does it protect the rights and trust of the people we serve?

Looking Toward the Future

Public safety technology will continue to advance. Artificial intelligence, robotics, drones, improved communications, real-time information sharing and other technologies will likely become even more common in law enforcement, fire, EMS, corrections, emergency management and search-and-rescue operations.

We should embrace technology when it helps us accomplish our mission, but we should never lose sight of why we use it.

I can remember when a radio, flashlight and knowledge of the county were some of the most important tools we carried. Today, a first responder may have access to more information on a mobile device than an entire agency had available years ago.

The equipment has changed. Our mission has not.

Our responsibility remains protecting lives, helping people during their worst moments, keeping our personnel safe and serving our communities with professionalism and integrity. Technology simply gives us another tool to help us do that job better.