Spring is upon us, and for those in areas that have changing seasons, it is a welcome time for new beginnings. Like the changing weather seasons, policing is in a changing season. This edition of Police Chief has a focus on the efforts to police the digital frontier.

Technology has brought about positive innovations and challenging opportunities for us in policing. The digital frontier has exploded. It is considered the ever-expanding boundary of technological innovation of digital transformation, where emerging technologies reshape how we live, work, communicate, and govern. It is defined by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, the Internet of Things, and blockchain. The criminal element has exploited it to enhance their approaches to victimization, and we struggle to keep up. The landscape is not fair, as we know.

The criminal element does not have to play by any rules, and we must follow all of them, which are also constantly changing. Governments and communities want police to keep them safe, but they also want to retain their rights to privacy and protection. In the United States, we deal with civil rights and civil liberties—and throughout the world, they are also known as human rights. As we respond to the attacks and efforts of the criminal element, we must ensure that we communicate to our communities and elected representatives the guardrails that are placed to protect these rights. The rules of the game must be clear, and they must be fair. Police leaders today must adapt to this new landscape. This is done by a combination of becoming educated on the emerging changes and finding the talents within your agencies (or hiring the talent) who are digital natives and can help navigate what is here and what is to come.

Working together, we can build a system capable of adapting and adopting the exciting future that is before us to create safer communities.

We are already experiencing the impact of AI, virtual and augmented realities, and quantum computing. I recently had a meeting with a company that has created a mind-blowing solution using quantum computing that will be game-changing technology for community safety. They are still perfecting the tool, but early results are exciting. But with this tool, I also see the need for police to create policy that will ensure communities that the tech will be used solely for protection, as it will have the capabilities for abuse. This is key to all technology—that we create ethical standards for their applications and use. We must clearly communicate early and often to avoid losing the ability to utilize these technologies. It is also necessary that the companies that are providing these technologies work with us on all these sensitive matters. Working together, we can build a system capable of adapting and can adopt the exciting future that is before us to create safer communities.

At the IACP, we are providing meaningful opportunities for engagement and leadership in this space. Each year, the IACP hosts the Technology Conference, bringing together law enforcement leaders, technology experts, industry partners, and policymakers to explore innovation, address emerging challenges, and shape the future of policing in the digital age. In 2026, the Technology Conference will take place on May 19–21 in Fort Worth, Texas. One of the many ways members engage in this work is through the Law Enforcement Information and Technology (LEIT) Section, which serves as a professional home for those focused on technology, innovation, and information sharing. This year the LEIT Section will celebrate its 50th Anniversary—an important milestone that reflects the IACP’s long-standing commitment to advancing technology in support of public safety. Additionally, several IACP committees address critical technology-related issues, including the Communications and Technology Committee and the Computer Crimes and Digital Evidence Committee. Engagement through our conferences, sections, and committees allows members to contribute to policy development, share best practices, and help chart a responsible and effective path forward for our profession.

Our world is more connected than ever before, and police work has expanded as a result. At the IACP, we are providing the gathering space to learn and innovate with peers from around the globe. The Digital Frontier is here, are you ready?d

Please cite as

David Rausch, “Policing at the Edge of Innovation,” President’s Message, Police Chief 93, no. 4 (April 2026): 6–7.