Grant funding used to pay for trip to the Middle East

The last time the LAPD traveled to Israel it the cost of the trip toppled $18,000. That money, according to sources  within the department, is considered to have been well spent.

Israel has a strong hold of counter-terrorism tactics, they said, and the Los Angeles Police Department feels that in making these types of trips, a lot can be learned.

LAPD Chief Bratton has described Israeli intelligence experts as being some of the best at what they do in all of the world.

The current trip, according to Deputy Chief Michale Downing,  focused on learning best practices and emergency technologies.

A total of eight LAPD command staff traveled to the Big Data Intelligence Conference this month, which attracted top intelligence and cyber security experts from throughout the globe.

But it's not just about best practices, said the LAPD's lead IT commander.  It's about taking bits and pieces of knowledge from each agency, putting those together and finding ways for the department to become more efficient.

"Yes, we're here to steal some of your ideas," he said.

Looking at new technology

The LAPD also had the chance to meet with some of their venders and were able to take a closer look at some of the solutions they offer.   Technology is constantly evolving, they said, and they're interest in keeping the department up to speed.

One company, for example, is able to capture, store and analyze billions of social media posts, text messages, phone calls and emails and use that data to detect possible threats.

Opponents of this type of technology reportedly say it raises an eyebrow and are concerned that using it could infringe upon citizens' civil rights.  They question how necessary it is to track cell phone and messaging data from people who are not suspects in an investigation.

Should civilians really be subject to ongoing monitoring, just because that technology is available?

Arguments are being made on both side of the coin.

The LAPD, however, points out they have far more constraints than federal agencies when it comes to this type of thing, and that big-data collection technology is mostly in the hands of the feds.