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World Briefs

Iraqi troops make advances in Ramadi; IS out of center BAGHDAD – Iraqi forces backed by U.S.-led airstrikes drove Islamic State militants out of the center of Ramadi on Monday and...

DATE: Dec 28, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

27 Americans shot and killed Christmas Day

In a grim reminder that violence in America never takes a holiday, 27 people were killed and 63 injured in shooting incidents on Christmas Day this year, according to the Gun Violence Archiv...

DATE: Dec 28, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Cleveland officer won’t face charges in 12-year-old boy’s death

CLEVELAND – A grand jury declined to indict a white, rookie police officer in the killing of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, a black boy who was shot while playing with what turned out to be a pelle...

DATE: Dec 28, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Trump slams Bill Clinton for ‘terrible record of women abuse’

In his escalating attacks on Hillary Clinton this month, Donald Trump has made one thing clear: He’s not afraid to go, well, anywhere. He has attacked Clinton for lacking his leve...

DATE: Dec 28, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Large storm brings twisters, floods – and it’s not over yet

GARLAND, Texas – As residents of North Texas surveyed the destruction from deadly tornadoes, the same storm system brought winter storm woes to the Midwest on Monday, amplified flooding that...

DATE: Dec 28, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Most helicopters unprotected as bird strikes rise, FAA warns

WASHINGTON – Government researchers warned 10 years ago that changes were needed in helicopter designs to prevent birds from crashing through windshields and disabling pilots. Today, dangero...

DATE: Dec 28, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Latest Chicago shooting raises concerns

CHICAGO – Grieving relatives and friends of two people shot and killed by Chicago police said Sunday the slayings raised concerns about why officers “shoot first and ask questions later,” ad...

DATE: Dec 27, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

At least 11 die from Texas tornadoes, 12 in Midwest flooding

GARLAND, Texas – At least 11 people died and dozens were injured in strong tornadoes that swept through the Dallas area and caused substantial damage this weekend, while 12 people died in fl...

DATE: Dec 27, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Techno-skeptics' objection growing louder

Astra Taylor’s iPhone has a cracked screen. She has bandaged it with clear packing tape and plans to use the phone until it disintegrates. She objects to the planned obsolescence of today’s ...

DATE: Dec 27, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Nation & World Briefs

ISIS puts up heavy fight to slow Iraqis in Ramadi BAGHDAD – Islamic State fighters are putting up a tough fight in the militant-held city of Ramadi, slowing down the advance of I...

DATE: Dec 26, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Year-end Review Congress GOP upheaval overshadows legislating

WASHINGTON – For Congress, 2015 was a year of ideological clashes, showdown votes and harsh words. And that was just among Republicans. It was the first year of Barack Obama’s two...

DATE: Dec 26, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Man buns, tiny houses and hacks: We’re over you

Some things that need to be left behind in 2015

DATE: Dec 26, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Photos: Animas River Days

Photos: Iron Horse Bicycle Classic mountain bike racesPlenty of spectators packed Steamworks Brewing Company on Sunday

Plenty of spectators packed Steamworks Brewing Company on Sunday

Photos: Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro road racesCyclists had beautiful day to ride into Silverton on Saturday

Cyclists had beautiful day to ride into Silverton on Saturday

Photos: Durango High School graduation ceremony

Photos: Durango Big Picture High School graduates receive diplomas

Durango police chief says technology name of game in modern policingAI bodycams, first responder drones and more in store for DPD

Artificial intelligence, drone first responders and body cameras that can translate 50 languages aren’t far-flung concepts of some opaque Hollywood future anymore. Even in Durango, they are becoming staples of modern policing.Durango Police Department is embracing technological advancements in what Police Chief Brice Current described to city councilors earlier this year as a “cautious” yet “progressive” approach.Since at least April, Current has stressed how DPD’s top priority with new technology is reinforcing public safety. Since at least April, Current has attended various community meetings about new technology the police department is adopting, where he’s stressed how DPD’s top priority with new technology is to reinforce public safety. He has also addressed residents’ concerns about how powerful some new technologies, including Flock Safety and other automated license plate reader cameras, have become – an ongoing conversation between DPD, the city and advocates for tighter automated license plate reader regulations in Durango.At a Kiwanis Club of Durango meeting last month, for example, Current addressed Flock cameras and drones, and also the importance of trust and accountability for law enforcement.“It is healthy for the public – if we’re going to be one Durango and we’re going to work together – to question government. I question government,” he said.

Current said accountability for officers and third-party technology services is necessary, and that requires education and transparency.Evoking laughter, Current showed a video clip of a drone launching a net at a person.“It requires no training, no policy, and there’s no way we’re ever going to use this,” he said. “There’s lots of other technology out there that is really cool, but just doesn’t fit in Durango right now.”Grappler systems that cast nets to trap a car’s tires are no longer gadgets used only by Batman in films and comic books. Current said Castle Rock uses just such a system. But they aren’t a good fit for Durango.“Those are great tools, don’t get me wrong, but there’s some – like facial recognition, some other things – that just aren’t going to fit in this community and shouldn’t fit here for a long time,” he said.New technologies at DPDDraft One AI Reporting by Axon is an audio transcription service that can identify multiple people in a body camera recording and produce a police report based on what is captured.Current said he held off on trying a demo of Draft One for a long time, because although DPD has used transcription services for years, he didn’t feel comfortable bringing an AI-generated police report to court.But AI transcription technology has come a long way, he said.“This system can take five different people or more at a time and assign who they are and transcribe what they’re saying in the report,” he said.Another benefit, he said, is it trains officers to speak into their body cameras more regularly to record what they are thinking and observing. That helps the veracity of officers’ testimony in court.“When you’re pulling a vehicle over, you used to say in court, ‘(The suspect is) reaching under the seat. I saw him doing some stuff that made me feel nervous.’ And the jury’s like, ‘Hmm, you’re saying that now because you found 2 pounds of dope in his car. But is that really what you’re thinking?’” Current said.Now, officers speak directly into their body cameras to capture not just what the body camera sees but what they are thinking and how they are processing a situation as it unfolds.“‘I’m feeling pretty nervous right now. He keeps reaching under his car (seat).’ They’re talking to their camera. ‘He’s waited two blocks to turn to pull over. That’s odd,’ ... It’s teaching the officer to talk more about what they’re feeling in the reports,” he said.DPD is using Draft One transcripts in misdemeanor cases, although it hasn’t begun using them in felony cases, Current said. But he is confident it will start using them in felony cases soon.The police department’s body cameras are now able to livestream video to the police station and 911 dispatchers at the Durango Emergency Communications Center, allowing first responder agencies to monitor situations in real time.Current said DPD is looking into getting language translation capabilities in 50 different languages for body cameras, but that feature comes with a higher price tag and the police department is waiting on grant funding to make a move.DPD is also implementing AI software into its internal systems to quickly search statutes to determine what charges might best match a situation, to flag internal affairs reviews if officer misconduct is detected in video footage, and more.

By now, residents may have noticed one or both of the drone first responders DPD deployed this year to survey incidents faster than officers can reasonably be expected to arrive on scene.Police used a drone last month to locate a missing boy near the Animas River. The drone deployed from Durango Fire Protection District Station No. 1 downtown and arrived in the general area the boy was last seen – behind the Durango Mall – in just a few minutes.Police also deployed a drone last week to the scene of a fatal shooting near Durango Skate Park.Within two minutes of the shooting, police launched a drone and got an aerial view of the scene “within seconds” of it being launched, according to a DPD news release.A second drone was launched a minute later.“The Durango Police Department’s Drone as First Responder system arrived above the scene before officers,” the release said. “The drone operator was able to see that there was no further gunfire taking place as officers approached the area. This technology provided officers with real-time information and helped them arrive with a stronger understanding of what was happening on scene.”The two drones operate on about a 2-mile radius with flight times of about 40 minutes.

‘We’ve learned to vet them’DPD and the city began to face harsher scrutiny from residents last year after members of DeFlock Durango performed records requests for Flock audits that revealed vehicle and license plate data was appearing in searches by law enforcement agencies across the country that have 287(g) cooperation agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Flock Safety has faced pushback from communities around the country for what some opponents of ALPRs call a mass surveillance system of Orwellian proportions. Critics have bashed Flock for providing data to federal law enforcement, for questionable privacy policies when it comes to captured data and for a lack of oversight on how police departments use data.

Current has repeatedly insisted Flock cameras do not constitute “mass surveillance,” although he has acknowledged privacy and abuse of power concerns.He said things are changing for the better with Flock after it faced backlash for working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.He said DPD has always dealt with third-party technology services, and over time it’s leaned to vet companies it partners with.When legislation required police to start wearing bodycams, police had issues with camera companies not storing data as required by law.“Do we trust these groups? Well, we've learned to vet them,” he said.cburney@durangoherald.com

AI bodycams, first responder drones and more in store for DPD

Photos: Fort Lewis College commencement ceremony

Photos: Ron Keller Invitational track meetDemons win home meet against local schools on Saturday

Demons win home meet against local schools on Saturday

Photos: Ben Nighthorse Campbell memorial

World Briefs

27 Americans shot and killed Christmas Day

Cleveland officer won’t face charges in 12-year-old boy’s death

Trump slams Bill Clinton for ‘terrible record of women abuse’

Large storm brings twisters, floods – and it’s not over yet

Most helicopters unprotected as bird strikes rise, FAA warns

Latest Chicago shooting raises concerns

At least 11 die from Texas tornadoes, 12 in Midwest flooding

Techno-skeptics' objection growing louder

Nation & World Briefs

Year-end Review Congress GOP upheaval overshadows legislating

Man buns, tiny houses and hacks: We’re over you

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