Rick Smith

At the 2026 SHOT Show, we unveiled a demo that's equal parts thrilling and educational: Thor's Hammer. ⚡ Imagine this – a volunteer (safely seated, of course) grabs the handle of an electrified ham...

I’ve always had a passion for science fiction. I believe it pulls our imaginations into new territory—and often hints at deeper truths that lead to real-world innovation. It’s through creative thin...

I’ve shared Officer Ali Winterbauer’s story before — because it stays with me. And as we approach that time of year again, when we recognize those who’ve protected life in the face of danger, her m...

I’ve always believed that if a technology can save lives, we need to understand it fully—and use it responsibly.Facial recognition has that potential. It can help locate missing people, identify hi...

Some people change the course of public safety forever. Two of them are Kevin Coles and his late partner, Peter Boatman.Mike Wagers and I sat down with Kevin in London for this week’s Boldly Go Pod...

After Finland, I touched down for a bit in Sweden. They are at an important moment in shaping the future of safety — and it was great to spend time in Stockholm this week talking with leaders who a...

Finland has a long history of pairing calm strategy with bold action — and that mindset was clear in every conversation we had in Helsinki this week.I met with Heikki Tamminen, State Secretary at t...

Back from a quick trip to the UK — and it feels like we’re at a magic moment in policing.Officers in the UK are unarmed, yet they’re facing rising levels of violence, especially knife crime. Histor...

Sitting down with Two Cops One Donut was awesome. Conversations like this are a powerful reminder that behind every piece of tech, there are real people, real stories, and real purpose driving it a...

A drone recently shut down an airport in Norway.This isn’t an isolated incident. It’s part of a bigger pattern we’re seeing across Western Europe—and across the world. Drones are being used in ways...

Standing today in Hiroshima, Japan, just 600 meters beneath where the first atomic bomb exploded, was profoundly sobering. Everyone within a mile was instantly incinerated. Yet, the true horror was...

🚫 Copyright strike incoming—courtesy of Team John Oliver.Our YouTube upload of Boldly Go Podcast Episode 11 was blocked for using “Last Week Tonight” footage—clips we relied on to fact-check sensa...

🚨 Comedy ≠ Accuracy.John Oliver’s recent TASER takedown got laughs—but left key facts on the cutting-room floor. In Episode 11 of the Boldly Go Podcast (dropping today) we trade punchlines for peer...

Where are the boldest visions for public safety taking shape today?The answer: everywhere.This week I was in Bangkok, meeting with the Royal Thai Police — an Axon strategic partner — alongside our ...