Critics are raising concerns about a new siren system being piloted by the Los Angeles Police Department that is being described as having an “acoustic assault” effect.
The LAPD announced that it will be installing low-frequency Rumbler sirens, which are attached alongside a standard police vehicle siren speaker, into 20 vehicles before expanding the pilot program. The advanced technology for the new siren system is described as being able to penetrate through “solid materials” and allows “vehicle operators and nearby pedestrians to feel the sound waves” to draw attention to the emergency.
The siren system is not new. The New York Police Department began using it back in 2009. However, manufacturers have responded to criticisms from concerned citizens about the sound system. The upgraded technology is what the LAPD intends to install in its vehicles…