According to a 2023 study by the Police Executive Research Forum, “agencies are losing officers faster than they can hire new ones.” 

Similarly, a Lexipol survey found that of the 9,400 first responders surveyed, 87% of officers reported that they work in departments with staffing levels below authorized numbers. 

As law enforcement agencies across the country are grappling with the significant challenge of a decline in total sworn staffing, many are turning to technology as a potential solution.

The repercussions of these staffing shortages become evident in the survey’s key findings:

• 96% of surveyed officers have seen the direct impact of low staffing.
• 68% are more concerned about on-duty safety due to short staffing. 
• 60% say they don't have adequate time for training due to short staffing. 

Given the critical nature of issues such as training and safety, the staffing crisis among sworn officers has the potential to negatively impact both communities and the officers dedicated to serving them.

As the recruitment of new officers becomes an increasingly challenging task, it is imperative for agencies to explore alternative strategies beyond conventional hiring practices. This approach is crucial not only for maintaining the safety and well-being of officers but also for safeguarding the communities they serve. 

One example of effectively using technology as a force multiplier can be found in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Implementing Technology to Combat Staffing Shortages: Tulsa Police Department

The City of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a growing metropolitan area with a population of over 400,000 residents. The Tulsa Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in the city, committed to ensuring the safety and security of the community it serves.

With a staff of around 800 sworn officers, although the recommended staffing level is 950, the department is experiencing the all-too-common challenge of operating while significantly short-staffed.

In response to this staffing challenge, compounded by a rise in violent crime, the Tulsa Police Department sought innovative solutions to amplify its impact. The department decided to leverage technology, emphasizing real-time policing to enhance the safety of their community.

Through the strategic deployment of Flock Safety Falcon® LPR cameras, and the utilization of FlockOS® to power their Real Time Information Center (RTIC), Tulsa PD achieved remarkable results. Within a span of just 17 months, the department attained a 100% homicide clearance rate while also fostering trust within the community and boosting officer morale.

To replicate the success witnessed by Tulsa PD, consider how adopting technology can help better position your agency for success while weathering the current realities of recruiting.

To empower your sworn officers and enable swift, decisive action, it’s important to equip them with cutting-edge tools that produce actionable, objective evidence. 

Deploy License Plate Recognition Cameras to Enhance Investigative Capabilities

License plate details are invaluable when it comes to real-time policing. From recovering stolen cars to locating missing persons and solving burglaries, these crucial details often make all the difference. While your officers can’t have their eyes on every corner in your jurisdiction, LPR cameras can. 

Flock Safety Falcon® LPR Cameras go beyond mere license plate capture, as our Vehicle Fingerprint® Technology identifies vehicles by make, color, and decals, transforming photos into actionable evidence. This enhanced functionality paired with real-time alerts allows officers to act swiftly in response to crime. 

Captain Jacob Johnston from Tulsa PD attests to the impact of implementing LPR cameras stating, “We have to find solutions that are…really evidence-based. Especially since we’ve brought in Flock Safety’s license plate readers, it seems that about every other case, we’re using LPR in some capacity.” 

Gain Situational Awareness at a Distance with Live Video

Another way to gain advanced situational awareness and case clearance is through live video. Flock Safety Condor live and recorded video enables officers to respond safely with remote-controlled video through a subscription-based solution.

Getting a comprehensive live view during critical incidents can provide overwatch for your officers' safety, while also providing crucial real-time updates. Then layered with information from LPR cameras, live video becomes a powerful force multiplier for officers in the field.

“LPR detects a suspect vehicle. By then tapping into live video, we can then determine which turning lane they’re using and analyze their potential route and relay that information in real-time to officers in the field.” Sgt. Tyson Carroll, Intelligence Unit Supervisor | Lexington, KY Police Department

Use Audio Detection to Locate Victims & Preserve Evidence Before 911 Is Ever Called 

Integrating audio detection devices like Flock Safety Raven® can revolutionize response times and enhance your agency’s ability to address gun-related crimes. Having an audio detection tool in place will allow you to collect vital audio and geospatial data to corroborate physical evidence - like shell casings.

The impact of audio detection is exemplified in a recent solved story in Michigan City, Indiana where the Flock Safety Raven® allowed Michigan City Police Department to quickly locate and arrive at the location of a fatal car crash and shooting, arresting two suspects involved in the crime.‍

Seamlessly Integrate First and Third-Party Data Across Video, LPR, and Audio

To streamline operations and provide officers with quick access to essential information, it is imperative to integrate various data sources. This will ultimately allow officers to make seamless connections between disparate sources, accelerating the investigative process.

For Tulsa PD, this meant implementing FlockOS® to pull together 911 call data, patrol vehicle locations, body-worn camera footage, and their network of pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) and LPR cameras. Flock’s integrated software solutions deliver real-time intelligence with unmatched scalability.

The implementation of technology, when strategically deployed and integrated, can act as a game-changing force multiplier. By empowering officers to act swiftly, proactively address threats, and advance investigative capabilities, these tools will ultimately help shape a safer future for your community – while improving officer safety and boosting morale.