NYPD to Return $74,000 Police Dog, After New Yorkers Object

     The NYPD has decided to return “Digidog,” which a $74,000 robotic dog that is equipped with cameras, lights, and transmitters that was being tested in New York City as a high-tech adjunct to human officers.

     In February, for instance, the robot dog cleared a crime scene in the Bronx.

     "[The robot dog] allows the police department to function with minimal risk to officers involved," John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor and 26-year veteran of the NYPD Keith Taylor told FOX 5 in February, "and the tactical value of that is immeasurable."

     Although Taylor praised the future potential of this technology, many New Yorkers, who recently saw the robot dog patrolling a housing project in Manhattan or in in a video of the incident that went viral, said that the dog was “frightening,” “militaristic,” and even “dystopian.”

      State Senator Brad Hoylman, who represents the 27th district in lower and midtown Manhattan, where the incident took place, recently said that he thought deploying robot dogs anywhere undermined police-community relations, but especially in a public housing complex where residents already mistrust the police.

     "They deserve policing that is humane and human," said Hoylman, who said he wanted to see the money, time, and energy spent on the robot, redirected into efforts to build better trust within the community.

     "Budgets are a statement of values," Hoylman said, "and when the NYPD deploys a $75,000 surveillance toy ..."

      Although the NYPD said that it has used robots in hostage and hazmat situations for more than 40 year, after the considerable backlash that took place over Digidog, today police confirmed reports that the bot dog would not be used anymore.

      "The contract has been terminated and the dog will be returned," the NYPD said in a statement to FOX 5 NY.