The 2020 lockdowns saw a sharp increase in speeding and road fatalities across the US, and this trend is yet to reverse. Why are American drivers still speeding, and what can we learn from the traffic statistics?

2020 proved to be a tumultuous year for law enforcement. As well as being tasked with protecting civilians throughout the course of a global pandemic, the police force was placed under a heightened level of scrutiny during a period of civil unrest. As the conversation about the role of policing in society turned into a national debate, the use of body cameras was brought into question, with many disagreeing on their effectiveness or how they should be used.

After more than six months of inactivity, the NYPD academy finally resumed courses on November 2nd, when a socially-distanced ceremony was held for the newest recruits. Wearing masks and remaining several feet apart, a total of 900 cadets took the oath to join the department and began serving their community, amid one of the most challenging periods in recent American history.

At Kustom Signals, we like to hail the positives in everyday policing, so we share how at different times during this year, three officers from across the US found themselves in situations where the life of a child was at risk. Without hesitating, and pushing all fears aside, these heroic officers stepped in and did everything they could to save lives.

A record-breaking 71,000 overdose deaths were recorded in 2019, and this year’s count is set to be higher. With a rise of more than 30% by the end of August, Kentucky stood out as the hardest hit state…

Even when optimism is scarce, there is room for surprises. Such was the case of veteran NYPD officer Yvan Pierre-Louis, 59, who was discharged from hospital in mid-September after fighting COVID-19 for 168 days. His journey was an extremely tough one; he spent more than four months on ventilation, two of which he was in a coma.

Victims of domestic violence (DV) are yet another casualty of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. When American citizens were advised to stay home this spring, police departments across the country reported a decrease in the incidence of crimes such as car theft and armed robberies. DV calls, however, increased sharply.

Considering how primitive medicine was in 1918, as well as the fact that sophisticated police equipment was still a distant dream, it is easy to wonder how order was maintained during such a chaotic time…

As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to reduce the normal patterns of life, the move away from close contact may be leading you to look for alternatives to on-site continued learning programs for your department…

From cameras to wearables, police agencies across the globe have started using smart devices to scan people’s temperature, and here are some examples of the latest innovations…