IACP Recap 2024: How Technology and Trust are Redefining Public Safety

As always, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 2024 conference in Boston was a major event for law enforcement leaders across the globe to connect, share strategies, and explore the latest developments in the field. This year’s event stood out, not only for the incredible hosting efforts by the Boston Police Department but also for the meaningful conversations shaping the future of public safety.

A Conference Grounded in Trust

A key theme that continues to dominate IACP is trust in policing. This year’s sessions and discussions reaffirmed the growing importance of community trust and confidence in law enforcement. The conference sessions and theme made it clear that building and maintaining trust is essential to effective policing. They provided agencies with valuable insights on fostering trust through transparency, community engagement, and accountability.

This captures the core of our work at Zencity and the partnerships we prioritize, where we empower law enforcement to engage meaningfully with communities, aligning public input with policies that meet the needs of both the public and agencies. Trust isn’t just a goal—it is the foundation of sustainable public safety, and we are proud to partner with cities to support this mission.

Technology at the Forefront: Drones and LPR

A second major topic of conversation at IACP 2024 was the evolving role of technology in policing. Of particular focus were two rapidly expanding technologies: drones as first responders (DFR) and automated license plate readers (LPR). Both tools offer significant potential to save lives and enhance public safety by improving response times and crime prevention capabilities.

However, adopting these technologies presents challenges—particularly the need to align their use with public expectations to maintain trust. It became clear during the conference that law enforcement agencies must strike a balance between leveraging these innovations and involving their communities in the process. The conversation isn’t just about what technologies can do but also about how the public perceives and receives them. Without public trust and buy-in, even the most advanced tools will face resistance.

Real-World Example: LPR and Community Feedback in San Diego

Our recent work with the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) and Flock Safety exemplifies this intersection of technology, public trust, and policy. SDPD sought to introduce automated license plate readers (LPR) through their smart streetlight program—a move that required community input to be successful. Through a tailored Zencity survey, SDPD was able to gather meaningful public feedback, understand community attitudes, and adjust its approach to align with public sentiment.

The result? A solution that not only harnessed cutting-edge technology but did so in a way that reflected community values and built trust between law enforcement and residents. This case really emphasizes how public perception is just as crucial as the technology itself in modern policing. It serves as a powerful example of the positive impact that transparent, data-driven decision-making can have on both policy outcomes and community relations.

Explore the San Diego LPR case study here.

Looking Ahead

As the discussions at IACP 2024 highlighted, the future of policing will be shaped by the ability of agencies to integrate emerging technologies thoughtfully and transparently, while continuing to build and maintain public trust. These themes of trust and technological adoption are not separate challenges—they are interconnected. The ability to effectively deploy life-saving tools like drones or LPR depends on public support, which must be earned through proactive engagement and transparency.

At Zencity it is our goal to support public safety agencies at every step of this journey, helping them listen to their communities and translate insights into data-based actionable policy. From creating trust to facilitating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, we are proud to be part of this evolving landscape of law enforcement.

The IACP 2024 conference served as both a learning experience and a reminder of our shared responsibility to keep public safety at the forefront while ensuring that community voices remain central to the conversation. We look forward to continuing these discussions and building partnerships that drive meaningful change.

See you in Denver 2025