NYPD Testing New Gun Scanner Device as Crime-Fighting Tool

The controversial NYPD stop-and-frisk tactic used to uncover concealed weapons soon may be rendered unnecessary, if a high-tech scanner device proves an effective alternative, The New York Daily News reports.

The new technology is a machine that reads terahertz and can detect guns.

The device, which is small enough to fit in a police vehicle or can be installed on a street corner, allows police to view concealed weapons from a distance through a person’s clothing.

“If something is obstructing the flow of that radiation, for example a weapon, the device will highlight that object,” NYC Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly explained Wednesday.

The department will begin testing the device’s portability and effectiveness on the street.

“We still have a number of trials to run before we can determine how best to deploy this technology,” said Kelly. “But we’re very pleased with the progress we’ve made over the past year.”