Page 24 - May June 2019 TPA Journal

Geocam Pro - This is an important app because it allows the capture of lat/long on an image, the tilt angle of
the camera, the pitch angle of the camera, and the embedding of other capture locations in an image. In addi-
tion, the captured images and associated metadata can be downloaded as a KML file for inclusion on Google
Earth. It also provides a map overlay of the camera’s position and direction of focus. As you turn to face a direc-
tion, the indicator changes on the map. The map also shows the other sites where you have captured an image.
There is a free version and a $4.00 pro version.

Figure 2 - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=wazar.geocam

Army Knife for Android (Ultra Utilities! + QR Scanner / Reader for iOS) - This app includes a flashlight, unit
converter, timer, stopwatch, compass, bubble level, calculator, magnifying glass, mirror, and ruler. Although each
of these elements is available as a separate app, or as part of other apps, this presents all of them in one place,
and each of the parts is amazingly complete. As an example, the timer allows up to ten different timers to run in
parallel, and the unit converter includes almost any unit of measure.

Final considerations

There are legal, social, and procedural issues that you should have in place as an agency or department regarding
cellular phones and having them in advance is professional preparation. They include:
A clear understanding for the officers regarding the rights of citizens to use cell phones to capture images.

A clear and documented policy for officers dealing with citizens using cell phones to document police action.
A clear and documented policy for the use of agency- or department-issued cell phones.

A clear and documented policy for the search of cell phones taken as evidence.

A clear and documented policy for the surrender of an agency- or department-issued cell phone in support of an
investigation or legal proceedings.

In each case: CONSULT YOUR LEGAL STAFF.

Author

Joel Aud has worked in cyber security, physical security, combined threats, risk assessments, and
mitigations for three decades. He holds advanced degrees in technical ethics, and cyber security, and
international certifications in cyber security and counterterrorism. Working in the US, Europe, Central Asia
and the Middle East, his cost-effective pragmatic solutions have received national and international
awards for excellence and technical innovation. More importantly, they have leveraged existing and
emerging technologies to deliver measurable results on time and under budget. He is an unrepentant
bookaholic and new idea addict.

20 www.texaspoliceassociation.com • 866-997-8282 Texas Police Journal