The Technology Revolution Enables Change

In 1847, Samuel Colt introduced his invention, the revolver pistol, to Captain Samuel Walker of the Texas Rangers, who ordered 1,000 of them for use in the Mexican-American War. Not long after, Colt’s pistol replaced the dagger-knife as the country’s most popular murder weapon. The pistols also became a standard-issue weapon to police officers in departments nationwide. For a later generation of police officers, the big innovation was the automobile, which vastly extended their range and reach. This chapter is about technology’s potential as an enabler, as well as its potential to stymie departments that are averse to its thoughtful