Photography has seen some dramatic changes over the years ever since the 1840’s when the advancement of acetate and gelatin for use as film made photography more practical.

However, no change has been more remarkable than the use of silicon, instead of grains of silver, to record images. While photographers like Mathew Brady, famous for his Civil War images, used bulky box cameras to document scenes, today’s photographers use sleek digital cameras. Photographic enhancements that used to be done in the darkroom by the likes of Ansel Adams are duplicated today using sophisticated software on flashy computers. Finished prints that used to drip from improvised clotheslines now roll smoothly out of high-tech photo printers.

Digital technology has revolutionized photography but the transition to digital offers reason for some trepidation. This transition is a significant concern for law enforcement today. The larger the agency the more magnified the concerns.

The transition from film to digital can be fraught with problems and at times can be seen as a military operation, or at least one requiring military precision. As in any police operation, things that might go smoothly on a small operation could spell disaster in a large one with many components. A successful police operation needs proper preparation, planning, organization, and coordination. A successful switch to digital photography requires the same elements.

Law enforcement agencies make the conversion from film to digital for basically four reasons.

1. To save money
2. To save time
3. To increase the quality of photographs
4. To increase the quality of communication with easy distribution of photos.

The credibility provided by digital photos and an enhanced public image resulting from employing current technology are additional advantages of going digital for a law enforcement agency.

Conversion to digital has particular considerations for medium to large law enforcement agencies. The conversion process needs to be initiated by thorough research, followed by a comprehensive plan, including cogent justifications paired with short and long term funding, supported by solid policy and procedures, and the wise selection of components.

Some agencies have started their conversion process with the digital camera. “The camera should be the last consideration,” says Chris Parsons of Linear Systems, a company that provides digital imaging to law enforcement. “The process should not start with camera towards output but should start with output towards camera.” The important lesson learned from successful conversion projects is that the infrastructure must be in place before any hardware or cameras are issued.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department recently began the film to digital conversion process and has developed a formula for success. The LVMPD brain trust realized that conversion to digital is a very complicated undertaking. They also realized that conversion is not a one time purchase of cameras but a continuing process involving many components.

Research
Research is essential for a film to digital conversion project. “In order to be successful in digital conversion, an agency can’t just buy cameras and expect that to propel the project,” says David Phillips, Photo Lab Supervisor for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. “The proper research must be completed first.”