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From computers that required manual, human assistance to AI that can create videos from a simple text prompt, technology is evolving at a rapid pace. To harness this evolution, workers, companies, and other organizations need to learn how to integrate this “smart” technology into their respective fields. For police officers, advanced technology offers multiple potential benefits. Research has shown that two significant areas in policing can benefit from these smart technologies: the physiological and psychological tolls on officers.
Long-work hours, overtime, and traumatic events contribute to the unhealthy stresses, anxieties, and health issues that officers face daily. A potential solution is biometric monitoring—wearable technology that could make a dramatic difference in the long-term health of officers. Biometric research and the exploration of how its integration into wearables has the potential to prevent possible disasters looming on the horizon.
Concerns Over U.S. Police Officers
The demands of police work are immense, leading to significant physical and psychological stress. Officers face long work hours, frequent overtime, and exposure to traumatic events, all of which contribute to severe health issues. Research conducted by the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health in 2011 revealed that police officers have one of the poorest cardiovascular disease profiles compared to other public occupations. The Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress Study (2004-2009) found that officers exhibited lower flow-mediated dilation, lower carotid intima-media thickness, elevated body-mass index, and higher rates of depression and PTSD. Shift work further exacerbates these health issues. Officers working non-day shifts were found to have doubled rates of depression and were nearly four times more likely to sleep less than six hours within a 24-hour period according to the Buffalo study. Additionally, 40.5% of officers were found to be overweight compared to 32.1% of U.S. workers, with a greater risk of metabolic syndrome.
Thus, there is a need for solutions that could assist officers facing these issues.
The Need for New Gear
Since the creation of the United States’ first police department, officer gear has been a crucial part of the job. Officers have persistently sought to increase their levels of safety, with body armor and load-bearing vests (LBVs) being recent additions to that effort. While uniforms represent a position of authority to the public, they also serve as physical protection. In 2010, the U.S. the Department of Justice mandated that if departments wanted reimbursement for body armor gear, officers would have to wear a vest while on patrol or during field operations. According to the National Institute of Justice, bulletproof vests have helped save the lives of more than 3,000 officers over the past three decades.
What if there were additional ways to continue saving officers’ lives through the innovation of their outwear?
The Promise and Future of Biometric Wearables
Biometric wearables offer a proactive solution to these health crises by providing real-time monitoring and feedback on officers’ physical and mental health. Traditional gear, while essential, no longer addresses the growing health crises among officers. This is where the integration of technology into outerwear comes into play. Devices like Fitbits and Apple Watches allow users to track their health goals and monitor vital signs. The integration of similar technology into police gear could revolutionize how departments manage officer well-being.
Smart fabrics and clothing with embedded technology could usher in a new era for police officers by enhancing their safety and health. While full implementation of wearable technology in police departments has yet to occur, research by the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley) suggests that biometric clothing could significantly improve the health and safety of wearers. Although smart garments currently represent less than 1% of the wearables market, wearable biotech appears to be rapidly growing. In 2019, it was predicted that $2.2 trillion in garments would be sold. Additionally, UC Berkeley data shows that since 2010, global athletic clothing revenue increased by 42%, and U.S. smart clothing revenue increased by 48% since 2013. There is gradually increasing demand for outerwear integrated with technology.
Benefits Of Biometric Gear
Biometric gear offers many benefits. Pratt Institute adjunct professor Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman, an author and researcher on smart wearable textiles, described to Forbes in 2014 how these “revolutionary” fabrics will be able to change “many things.” According to Pailes-Friedman, smart textiles can be split into two categories: aesthetic and performance wearables. While aesthetic wearables cater to fashion, performance fabrics can “…help regulate body temperature, reduce wind resistance and control muscle vibration – all of which help improve athletic performance.”
Another textile researcher from North Carolina State University, Jesse Jur, created an iron-on electronic for clothing in 2017. Using advanced technology, Jur’s team developed a shirt that monitored heart rate and sent health updates wirelessly to a phone. “Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death for firefighters,” Jur told NBC News. “…Monitoring stress levels and efficiencies for police officers or soldiers could be useful. Those applications could be an interesting stepping stone to broader applications for everyone.”
Additional studies from Harvard researchers in 2017 led to the development of a “…lightweight, portable nanofiber fabrication device…,” which has the potential to be worn on wounds. Another Montreal-based group, OM Signal, debuted their smart apparel, offering short-sleeve, long-sleeve, and sleeveless varieties of a compression shirt for officers, each priced at $200. These shirts feature a small black box that relays heart rate and breathing data to a smartphone. This information can notify and alert dispatch and other officers about the condition of the officer wearing the shirt, providing crucial assistance in situations involving gunshot wounds, car crashes, and heart attacks.
As officers have been required to wear body cam recorders, which could be considered a form of wearable technology, NYPD in 2015 began experimenting with additional technology that might benefit officials. Testing products like Google Glass and teaming with companies like Sony, the push for technology within departments has seen firm support from the federal government. For example, the Department of Homeland Security provided $750,000 to a pilot program for the Virginia-based Center for Innovative Technology to spearhead a project called ‘Emerge: Accelerating Wearable Tech for First Responders.’ The NYPD’s involvement in these technology experiments is part of an ongoing effort to enhance officer safety and efficiency. By integrating advanced wearables, officers could potentially benefit from real-time health monitoring and immediate alerts to dispatch and supervisors about critical conditions such as heart attacks, gunshot wounds, or severe stress levels. This proactive approach could lead to timely medical interventions, improving the chances of recovery and allowing officers to return to work more swiftly and safely.
Suggestions
To make this vision a reality, departments should consider establishing partnerships with technology companies and seeking federal or state funding for pilot programs. A clear strategy involves creating a framework for resting and implementing wearable technologies, training officers on their use, and ensuring data privacy and security. Departments should develop protocols for responding to health alerts, including immediate medical attention and follow-up care, to ensure officers can continue their duties without compromising their health.
Furthermore, addressing the privacy of medical data is crucial. Clear policies must be established to protect officers’ health information while enabling supervisors to act on alerts effectively. By navigating these challenges, the adoption of wearable technology in law enforcement can significantly enhance officer safety, health, and performance, paving the way for a safer and more efficient future in policing.
Conclusion
Once a fictional concept from Hollywood movies, wearable biotech could soon become a reality for police departments across the United States. The demanding and strenuous nature of police work takes a toll on both the mind and body. From job-related stress to lack of sleep due to irregular schedules, officers are constantly pushing themselves to their limits to serve and protect the public.
With wearable biotech, both officers and department officials would benefit from the insights provided by this technology. Officers could monitor their health in real-time, enhancing their overall performance on the job. Department officials could ensure efficient responses to emergency situations and better manage the health and well-being of their officers.
Lieutenant Monica Cuellar has dedicated 31 years to the Pasadena Police Department, holding various roles including Patrol, Detectives, Traffic, Special Events, Internet Crimes Against Children – Task Force, FTO Program and Neighborhood Services Section Supervisor. She currently serves as the Chief’s Adjutant and Public Information Officer. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications/Journalism and a minor in Theology from Biola University. Monica is an alumnus of the Supervisor Leadership Institute and has completed the FBI LEEDA Leadership Trilogy. She is also pursuing a master’s degree at Command College. Beyond her professional career, Monica volunteers with the Triumph Foundation, is on the council for the Special Olympics Southern California – Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) and is a member of the Pasadena Kiwanis Club. She is passionate about her faith in God and spending time with her family. She is set to graduate from the POST Command College Class 72 in July 2024.
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