Technology and Law Enforcement: From Gumshoe to Gamma Rays

Although for much of the mid-twentieth century police departments across the U.S. had been reluctant to embrace new technology, depending instead on traditional police techniques, detectives in Los Angeles finally departed from this practice when in 1985 they found themselves stymied in their attempts to solve the infamous Night Stalker serial murder case. This murderer and rapist had gone on a deadly rampage during the spring and summer of 1985, and though the police used every traditional police technique they could not solve the crime. Finally, in desperation, they decided to do something different: use what was then the latest, cutting-edge technology. This new technology, the laser print finder, worked perfectly and the police arrested the Night Stalker the next day. Following this astonishing success, police departments across the nation suddenly began clamoring to obtain all kinds of new technology to assist them in solving crimes. This rush to embrace the latest technology hasn't slowed in the intervening 21 years.

Robert L. Snow is Commander of the Homicide Branch in the Indianapolis Police Department.