Just returned from the IACP (International Chiefs of Police) Conference in Orlando, which was very well attended this year and seemed to have more vendors in the exhibit hall than in past years. All in all, it was a very good show with great sessions. My general observations from the show floor include: This was the year for software companies—analytical software, crime scene, evidence collection, tracking, and more. However, there were fewer drones (excuse me, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)), perhaps because as the FAA stated in its session on the subject, we are a stage where drones are considered to be the wild, wild west of UAVs. A citizen can use one to buzz a star’s house and if arrested, the drone must be handed over to the feds, but there is no federal law that has been broken. If a law enforcement agency flies a drone it is against the law unless the person at the controls is a licensed, certified pilot. Go figure. I want to see drones used not only for surveillance but also as a platform for small radio repeaters when radio coverage is needed in an area where there is no coverage. Continue reading →