Taylor Police continue to be among the leaders in the Metro Detroit area when it comes to new law enforcement technology, this time with the addition of a Robot Assisted Device dog, or RADDOG, which was added to the force’s toolbox last month.

According to Police Chief John Blair, the RADDOG is the department’s newest de-escalation device. They entered into an attractive $32,000 lease for the product with Robotic Assisted Devices, an Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions company. The robotic canine adds to an ever-increasing list of “force multipliers,” according to Lt. Jeff Adamisin, who has become the department’s IT specialist.

“It puts us face-to-face with the person or situation without a risk of human harm,” Chief Blair said. “It can act almost like a Zoom call where you can have interaction without other risks.”

“I am immensely proud to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the City of Taylor and the Taylor Police Department for their pioneering spirit and unwavering commitment to innovation in law enforcement,” said Steve Reinharz, Founder, CEO and CTO of Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD).

“This historic partnership signifies a remarkable milestone in the evolution of law enforcement technology, showcasing how collaborative efforts between public and private sectors can drive positive change for the safety and well-being of communities. We sincerely hope that the addition of RADDOG within the Taylor PD will add a layer of safety for their officers, and work to de-escalate dangerous situations.”

Part of this agreement involves testing the RADDOG, which is ideally used in barricade situations, HAZMAT events, etc.

Lt. Adamisin admitted that the department will “experiment with” the device and offer constant feedback to the company. “It’s great to be on the ground floor with something like this.

“I never thought of myself as an IT guy,” he continued. “But today’s law enforcement outlook is about adding force multipliers and this is another perfect example of how the new technology fills voids and gives us opportunities to do things that weren’t available previously.”

Chief Blair can’t agree more. He hired into the force in a different time – 1991 to be exact. Hundreds or even thousands of job applicants were available through every graduating class of the police academy. The technology today was nowhere to be found.

“The City of Taylor, with is large population and size, is challenging,” he said. “With the freeways running through, we might be looking at 250,000 people on any given day. We want to look more and more toward a professional policing model. Transparency is important. But hiring police is difficult these days and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”

Into the void steps new technology. One of the chief’s favorite new innovations is the StarChase GPS Solutions for Public Safety program. That investment aims at curbing dangerous high-speed chases. Instead of entering into a high-speed vehicle chase, at time police will have the option of using a patrol car-mounted launcher to fire a GPS “tag” into the fleeing vehicle. The tag sticks to the vehicle and police can track it via GPS, deescalate the situation and make the arrest at a later time.

“With vehicle pursuits, the question is always, ‘Are they worth it?’,” Chief Blair said. This system will not totally eliminate high-speed chases, but they will cut down on them. StarChase claims the system has led to $150M in recovered assets, an 85 percent apprehension rate and thousands of lives saved. Taylor’s use of the system expands the model into law enforcement agencies in six states.

Overall, since 2019, Taylor has been in the Downriver forefront by adding devices that make residents safer and its own officers more efficient. It started with body and vehicle cameras along with new Tasers. That was expanded by a 10-year contract with Axon that offered the system’s “total police package” including tracking mechanisms, the possibility of a recording management system and much more.

“We’ve headed toward less vendors and more interaction across our platforms,” Lt. Adamisin said. “Knowledge is power.”

As a result, Taylor Police has been able to connect law enforcement aids across all the community. The police now understand and can access cameras and entry key cards for the Taylor School District, which could save important seconds and minutes in emergencies. Body cameras work to keep both the public and the police officers who serve them accountable, cutting down on lawsuits and debates over what happened during police stops.

It doesn’t stop there. The department invested in a fleet of four drones that help track down missing persons and aid with K-9 units and traffic through Axon Air, managed by seven FAA-certified pilots. In the future, don’t be surprised if the ever-improving drones are used as first-responders, being deployed on certain calls as the department’s “first eyes” on the scene.

Another program, Text 911, offers a text alternative to emergency calls. Nearly 50 Flock safety license-reading cameras have been installed across the community, resulting in 3 million readings per month and 500 hits involving some type of crime. Similar cameras are being installed in some parks.

Recently, it was also announced that 355 cameras from Verkada – the same system used in local schools – are being installed in City-owned buildings to enhance security.