Columbia County deputies are the first law enforcement officers to use a new app that they helped test and develop.
Created by Seven Eight Technologies, based in Martinez, the “Thin Blue Line” app is designed to help defend law enforcement in use-of-force-related incidents.
Douglas Parker, the CEO of Seven Eight Technologies, says the app will guide law enforcement to document what officers were thinking and why they made certain decisions, as well as logging the location of key elements, their equipment, weather, dialogue and other important factors in a critical situation.
Columbia County Sheriff Clay Whittle says he believes this app can change the narrative of law enforcement.
“The one thing I haven’t seen until the past two years of my career is the change of perception of law enforcement across our country. It is a narrative being told that is not even close to true,” Whittle said during a recent press conference highlighting the app. “We are partly to blame for that narrative. One of the ways is the lack of information we put out to the media we put out that did happen. I see us changing that narrative by the use of this app.”
Whittle also explained that it is unpopular to be a law enforcement officer today and stated that his agency is down to 47 people. He believes this app can help improve these numbers nationwide.
Attorney Adrienne Browning said it will help deputies document the information for themselves and their attorneys.
“One crucial aspect of use of force defenses is what was the officer thinking and why did he or she do what she did in that scenario, and this app will definitely make sure we have those answers, and we can prepare the best defense possible or even better, prevent any prosecution at all,” Browning said.
Georgia State Rep. Barry Fleming (R-Harlem) said he hopes it can help with recruiting officers and keeping good ones around.
“When you can go and show them, we are taking active efforts to make you a better officer and serve your community better and take care of you when you have to deal with terrible situation, it has to help with recruitment and keeping good officers in the force,” Fleming said during the June 7 press conference.
Whittle said he was excited about the app.
“I am so excited about this app because I know it will protect our officers, and I know it will allow them to have cognitive thoughts, put down information for their attorneys, and I know by having it they will be able to use the app to fill out their law enforcement reports to better explain to me and the public why they reacted the way they did,” Whittle said.
