The NYPD wants to use “smart” guns in order to avoid future friendly-fire incidents.
In the wake of the tragic death of Officer Omar Edwards at the hands of another cop, the NYPD said the department is looking at new technology to help avoid future incidents, officials said today.
Police-issued guns – still under development by the Pacific Northwestern Laboratory – would be outfitted with a computer chip that would emit a sound or a beam of light when drawn from the holster.
The gun would resemble something out of a James Bond movie with technology that would make clear that the other person was holding a department-issued weapon.
Both people armed with the weapon would be notified of the danger – although the trigger would not automatically lock, the department said.
“In discussions with Pacific Northewest National Laboratories on the possibility of adapting research they have conducted with [radio frequency] tags to integrate the technology into police equipment to minimize the danger an officer on officer confrontation situations,” the department said in a statement.
Uniformed, plainclothes and off-duty weapons would all be armed with this technology.
If the plan is implemented, the NYPD would be the first police force in the nation to use this type of technology.
When I was at SIG, one of my customer agencies offered to put our CEO in a Sim scenario so he could see first hand what would happen if a gun jammed in the middle of a fight.
This is just perfect. Instead of training their officers to a reasonable level of proficiency they can just buy a new fancy thing that will solve all of their problems without wasting time on those pesky things like training, weapons maintenance and tactics. They’d be better of with a bunch of guys that can throw rocks really really well than with poorly trained officers with a fancy new ray gun. Especially when they forget to bring the AAs for their pistol.
You can not technoligize decision making like that. Since it doesn’t smell, sound, taste like a cop, so they can shoot? Of course how long until fake IFF units get out and cops get popped when they hesitate? I’m all for cops-not-shooting-cops, but it would be nice if they didn’t pop any of us civies either.
How about CCW for citzens so the BGs are forced out of business.
Of course, the next step would be that all guns would have ot have the IFF so that cops can’t get shot (yeah, right). That is about as likely as BGs wearing IFF that says “shoot me”.
Is there really enough statisical evidence to support the need for a device such as this? I seriously doubt it, whether it be in New York or any other city in the world.
What this will serve to do is set a series of precidents that can and will then be used by Liberal Minded Departments and Politicians in other Cities like Los Angelas, Chicago, Atlanta etc…to initate legislation for such safety devices in the civilian market.
After all we civies don’t have the same level and proper training to handle a firearm safely.<----Sarcasm intended.:rolleyes:
NYPD should try some smart cops instead. There low entry level salary and no political support, they are forced to hire the lowest common denominator. The anti gun philosophy of NY teaches it’s Cops ,Gun = Bad Guy.
My thoughts exactly. In my personal opinion, there is no substitute for proper training. NYC should really consider putting the money they would spend on these new devices(which I’m sure aren’t cheap) into better training for their officers.
That’s a pretty ridiculous thing to say. One of the smartest people I know was a NYPD cop, and more than one reads this forum. Just because someone is willing to work for less money than you doesn’t make him stupid. Maybe he’s just, oh I don’t know, less selfish?
this is a knee-jerk reaction to a friendly fire incident where a offduty cop was chasing a perp with his firearm drawn . when responding officers yelled for him to stop and drop his weapon - he turned on officers pointing his firearm in their direction . unfortunately they fired on him not realizing he was a brother officer . his shield was found in his pocket , he did not survive .
the problem is that the nypd is too big . with nearly 35,000 cops there is never enough training that is actually beneficial to working the streets . mostly it is cover your ass training to avoid lawsuits , or to hang out the cop when things go bad .
if the city of new york , which is always crying about being broke , wants to purchase me 2 new weapons and all the leather gear assiciated with them , and all the new training that goes with it , i say bring it on … i have a better chance of being struck by lightning .and yes while a stupid idea , i remind the members here that last year a new york state representative threw out the idea of putting video cameras on nypd guns . we’re still waiting for those …
It must be the gun’s fault so getting a new gun is the answer. Surely NYPD training and procedure had nothing to do with this tragedy, if that were the case then someone would have to be held accountable.
Why is it when there is an incident like this the so called “smart” elected officials always want to throw money at a pointless change? Are they forgetting they’re probably next in line behind California for their spending habits. It seems like there is something in the water leading to about every politician in this country’s home/office. It seems doing the right/intelligent thing has become an extinct practice. It’s a shame the officer lost his life and even more of a shame that the endless spool of red tape in NYC is probably the main cause for situations like this.
