The famous Times Square NY blocked on Tuesday by the police to submit two new security robots;And Launching the GPS trackercapable of following the vehicle of a suspect attempting to escape.

His demonstration aroused particular interest. digitalog, a terrifying robotic police dog that the police will use in dangerous incidents. The ceremony was led by the mayor of New York and a former police officer. Eric Adams, which confirmed that the new anti-crime measures will include all these technological innovations. Two years ago, the city police succumbed to public criticism by announcing the end of production of a robotic dog.

“The Digidog is out of the cage,” Mayor Adams announced triumphantly. The mayor was elected in 2021, saying he is the only one – as a former police officer and a staunch critic of any controversial police practices – who can guarantee the safety of residents without compromising human rights. However, a year after his election, robberies and burglaries are on the rise despite a decline in homicide and gun violence.

Adams and Police Chief Keeshan Sewell stressed at a press conference on Tuesday that the city will continue to invest in state-of-the-art security systems. “We are scouring the planet to find the right technology to keep New Yorkers, visitors and residents of our city safe. This is the first step in a series of such initiatives,” the mayor said.

Adams’ predecessor, Bill de Blasio, took a different path, deciding in 2021 to end funding for the robotic police dog program. “He’s scary, he repels citizens and sends the wrong signal to New Yorkers,” de Blasio’s spokesman explained at the time.

“Digidog is out of the cage,” said the mayor, a former police officer who emphasizes modern security systems.

Today, New York is acquiring two Digidogs for $750,000, providing funding from the seized funds. Police officials have clarified that the robotic dogs will not be used on patrols, but only in cases where officers’ lives are at risk, such as checking suspicious packages. The Digidog, unveiled in Times Square on Tuesday, was on loan from the fire department, which has been using the robot for a year now. A spokesman for manufacturer Boston Dynamics said Florida police recently used a Digidog in an operation to rescue a three-year-old girl who was taken hostage.

Unorthodox methods

As mayor of Brooklyn, Adams demonstrated his preference for unorthodox policing methods. At the time, he held a press conference to introduce a lasso-like device capable of stopping violent and mentally unstable people. Lasso inventor Frank Carone was named Adams’ chief of staff as soon as he was elected mayor of New York.

The police will also pilot a 1.5 meter tall cylindrical robot that will monitor the flow of passengers at the Times subway station. The $12,250 system will be escorted by a police officer and send images of suspects to police headquarters. Such robots, which record video images and can speak commands and warnings, are already being used in underground parking lots in New York and San Francisco, where they keep homeless people away from camping.

The municipality eventually signed a $19,500 contract for a fixed lease of seven StarChase units. These vehicles look like guns from a sci-fi movie and fire a small magnetic disc that attaches to the body of the vehicles, allowing authorities to track their movements. “We are committed to putting an end to street car chases between police officers and suspects. This system will allow us to track suspects from a distance without endangering the lives of passers-by,” the mayor said.