It's that time of the week for the obligatory prompt — inspired (but not sponsored) by HBO and David Simon's still-going miniseries, "We Own This City — in which we discuss the intersection of policing and tech in Baltimore.

The Mayor's Office recently unveiled its new SMART policing initiative, which includes expanded diversion to TRU/Online Reports. This move aims to better serve the public by diverting non-emergency calls to the Telephone Reporting Unit instead of providing in-person police.

This policy, along with others that rely on working with social workers or third-party vendors, is a part of this new broader strategy of policing in Baltimore. This strategy, according to prior statements from the BPD and Mayor Brandon Scott, seeks to emphasize "the intelligent deployment of law enforcement resources in order to more effectively combat violent crime."

Where do you see the impact of tech on the increasing use of third-party services? Does social entrepreneurship have a place in community policing? Does the nebulous effectiveness of tech-based interventions like Shot Spotter and the Citizens app make the space unattractive?Let us know how you see tech playing a role in the increase of third parties into policing by replying to this email or sending a note to baltimore@technical.ly, anytime.