For decades, police in the United States have held the distinction of being the most modern law enforcers in the world. Has America’'s smugness in the face of this reputation become a barrier to progress?
As manufacturing goes, American industry is unrivaled. It is the number one provider of exports in the world and boasts the highest GNP of any nation. America rests its laurels on the fact that it spends more money on research and development than the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Japan combined. It is constantly reinventing goods and services for the betterment of humanity and marketing those to a ready and willing World economy.
From a marketing persepective the downside of progress is that once a new idea is established, it immediately risks becoming stagnant, prostrate and old fashioned in the face of such aggressive invention by its competitors. As American manufacturers fight for market dominance, corporations with older products and inferior designs are desperate to squeeze out the last drop of revenue from products which stock their shelves. In America, the reselling of older products tends to dominate the new selling of advanced products because of poweful marketing forces which drive the American consumer. This truth is hardly more evident than in American police forces where many manufacturers have developed a loyal network of supporters who are brought into their corporate clutches through rewards and entitlements of affiliation. In America, many companies have used certification of their product as an elaborate seduction by which rank and priviledge endear American trainers and decision makers to a “tail wagging the dog” campaign.
On the contrary, foreign agencies who are the target of a far lessor marketing campaign are able to take an objective look at American invention in order to select the best products that fit their needs. They are rarely influenced by the American branding of products that seems to drive and direct American police departments in their purchasing decisions. Though their own countries spend only a fraction of money in developing new products, they are often the first to move to the latest, and greatest technology in the field. Some companies in pursuit of progress have seized the moment and have moved away from traditional marketing styles.
For instance, operating just below the radar screen of most American corporations, RRB Systems International has been steadily courting the International community for the past seven years with its own brand of new and innovative police technology. With sales of its Rapid Rotation Baton, Rapid-Cuff and a litany of unique training courses to Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, and Latin America, RRB Systems International presents a paradoxical dilemma to the global policing community. Though the products are researched and developed in the USA, they are often validated in foreign countries. So who really deserves the credit for bringing new ideas to life? It seems that many American police officials who travel to foreign areas, where the influence of RRB Systems is very evident are often shocked to discover that these unusual products which adorn the uniforms of foreign officers are in fact born in in the USA.
RRB president Roy Bedard fondly recalls several incidents when police officers have confessed that their first run in with his equipment came from a foreign visit. “I had one officer tell me that his fascination with our Rapid Rotation Baton started on his honeymoon in Jamaica, when he surprised his wife by approaching a Jamaican officer who proudly wore the inverted baton on his belt.” The officer was happy to explain that he went through the RRB systems training and he himself was a trainer in the system. This US officer felt certain that this was the first time that any Jamaican Police official was able to throw progress in the face of an American. The American officer immediately contacted our company when he got back into the country. As far as I know, his agency still remains unwilling to move forward and continues to use straight batons in the field. They tell him it is a budget issue. He is convinced that their lack of intrepidness with new products is a simple fear of the unknown.”
Regardless of the reason, many American police believe that their agency’'s conservative ways often deter progress and encourage foreign nations to surpass them in professionalism. “The failure to adapt new technology weakens the US industry and encourages laxity.” It is clear that Americans are beginning to look abroad for new ideas and new solutions to very old problems.