Technology: "Predictive policing;" (A passing fad - or wave of the future (and a boon for the technology industry? HL): The Los Angeles Times (reporter Alene Tchekmedyian, October 4) reports: "The Burbank Police Department has suspended officer deployments based on "predictive policing” technology hailed by top brass as the future of crime-fighting after complaints from police officers."..." Some law enforcement agencies have said the system has helped crack down on crime. But in Burbank, critics said the software's algorithm couldn't beat a veteran officer’s intuition and knowledge of his or her patrol area. They also said the algorithm sometimes zeroed in on obvious areas where officers already know there's crime or silly locations, such as the police station, where people often show up to report crimes. Roughly half of the 118 sworn employees who took a June survey by the Burbank police union indicated that they'd considered leaving the department sometime during the last year, while 60% indicated they were unlikely or extremely unlikely to recommend a career with the agency to their children, relatives or friends. About 75% indicated that morale at the agency was low or extremely low. Dozens advocated that the agency hire more officers, increase specialty assignments and rely less on the predictive policing technology, which analyzes crime reports to predict potential problem areas."

STORY: "Police push back against using crime-prediction technology  to deploy officers," by reporter Alene Tchekmedyian, published on October 4, 2016, by The Los Angeles Times.

GIST: "The Burbank Police Department has suspended officer deployments based on "predictive policing” technology hailed by top brass as the future of crime-fighting after complaints from police officers. The shift comes as police departments across the country are increasingly using computer technology to help predict crime trends and deploy officers accordingly. Some law enforcement agencies have said the system has helped crack down on crime. But in Burbank, critics said the software's algorithm couldn't beat a veteran officer’s intuition and knowledge of his or her patrol area. They also said the algorithm sometimes zeroed in on obvious areas where officers already know there's crime or silly locations, such as the police station, where people often show up to report crimes. Roughly half of the 118 sworn employees who took a June survey by the Burbank police union indicated that they'd considered leaving the department sometime during the last year, while 60% indicated they were unlikely or extremely unlikely to recommend a career with the agency to their children, relatives or friends. About 75% indicated that morale at the agency was low or extremely low. Dozens advocated that the agency hire more officers, increase specialty assignments and rely less on the predictive policing technology, which analyzes crime reports to predict potential problem areas."

The entire story can be found at:

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-police-predict-crime-20161002-snap-story.html

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:  I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:  http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html  Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com.    Harold Levy. Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.