Is this the future of Detroit law enforcement?
I’m writing this assuming everybody has either seen the movie RoboCop, or at least has a slight understanding of the premise of the movie. If you have no idea, click here for a summary. In short, the movie takes place in the future Detroit, where the city is a dilapidated mess and crime has run rampant (sound familiar?). A private security firm, Omni Consumer Products (OCP), buys the Detroit police department since the government can no longer afford it. After a failed robotics demonstration, RoboCop is created after the death of a police officer.
So what does this have to do with current day Detroit? A Time.com article showcases how private security is a growth industry in Detroit, due to cuts to an already depleted police force that the government cannot pay for. These private security contractors are paid by homeowners associations, and they patrol a specific area looking for anything out of the ordinary and respond to calls from residents.
So how does this lead to RoboCop spitting witty one liners at criminals?
It may seem like a stretch, but this could be the beginning of a chain of events leading to robotic police patrols. If the private security companies become more efficient than the standard police force, or if they are successful working alongside what is left of a police department, their power and control could grow over time. Since their budget would be controlled by concerned citizens, and not a near bankrupt state government, they could also have much more money to spread their influence.
This money could be used to erect CCTV systems, increase patrols and restrictions in a neighborhood, and maybe even build a cyborg officer. Even now, there are numerous robotics systems that can be built into a human to increase their strength, stamina, speed and more. In an increasingly dismal cityscape, citizens may be more willing to accept a cyborg cop in an attempt to save lives and keep themselves safe.
If conditions in Detroit do not improve, who knows what the future holds. It could be the testing grounds for a robotic police force, or maybe just one badass robotic cop.
::from Time via Futurismic::
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Twitter Username: decembersun
says:
Seems like something completely likely in the near future, especially for areas of violent confrontation where robotic law enforcement would be ideal.
Although I hate to see trying to talk my way out of a speeding ticket to a robot.