Tech innovations

As cops, many of us have not yet moved into to 21st century.  It took many years for some of us to lose the beeper in favor of a cellular phone. We are now living in an information age whether we like it or not. Some of our departments are on the cutting edge with computers in the cars which print reports back at the station, or realtime license plate scanning on the move. This is a great direction. As long as things are simple, we love it.

1. Faxing is passe’ Email is in. Many of us are involved with our various unions or organizations and from time to time are promoting an event. While faxing is the recognized staple of disseminating information, email is much faster and easier. Most of the time a flyer is created on a computer, whether it be a graphic file or some sort of document. The best quality for any thing created in a computer, is when it remains in the digital realm. When you print it and then walk over to that clunky fax machine, your quality has degraded about 20 times over. When you ask someone to Post this on their website, a number of things can happen. First, The fax may be scanned. Then converted into a graphic or a PDF. Then uploaded onto the website. Then that link sent back to the originator. This all takes time and the quality of the finished product is, mediocre at best.

Keep it digital! Send the original flyer via email. it is then created to a PDF (form features added if needed so it can be filled out on-screen) Posted. Now you have a flyer AS GOOD as the original. Much easier and professional looking. In short, If it starts in the computer, make sure a copy stays in the digital realm.

2. Emailing or forwarding of email jokes is a full time job to some. If you still need to forward these (I do too), remember to try and make the email “your own”. Depending on the recipient’s email program, or service, these emails which have been forwarded countless times are either 20 screens long, or are nested 20 emails deep. Sometimes, and quite often, not worth the effort to finally see the picture or read the joke.
If you get a good picture or joke and feel the need to share, Copy & Paste just the picture or joke into a completely new email.
Also, keep peoples privacy by NOT putting everyone you know in the TO: field. Here’s a trick, Put yourself in the TO: field and put everyone else in the BCC: field.

3. Remeber that not all the CAUTION emails are real. We get them at least on a weekly basis. Super Virus, or the old Bright Headlight/gang initiation gag. Before you forward this to everyone you know, Please check it out. and also be aware that not all of the so-called “Hoax Websites” are right either. Due Diligence!
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