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MASSACHUSETTS POLICE USE ROBOTIC DOG IN STANDOFF AFTER SHOPPING CENTER SHOOTING

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“MASSACHUSETTS POLICE USE ROBOTIC DOG IN STANDOFF AFTER SHOPPING CENTER SHOOTING”

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In 2016, Dallas PD became the 1st U.S. force to use a robot to kill a suspect.

Police used a bomb-disposal robot to detonate explosives near Micah Johnson, ending a standoff. The act sparked nationwide legal debate about due process and use of force with autonomous tech.

Boston Dynamics banned weaponizing Spot after police deployments sparked outcry.

After robotic dogs like Spot were leased to law enforcement — including MA State Police in 2019 — Boston Dynamics updated its terms of use in 2021 to explicitly prohibit using Spot as a weapon or to intimidate people.

This storyHow long did the NYPD's robotic dog program last before public outcry ended it?

  1. About 2 months
  2. About 8 months
  3. About 18 months
  4. About 3 years
Guess, then reveal the answer

About 2 months

This storyWhere will Taylor & Travis honeymoon?

  • A private island getaway 0%
  • European tour city hop 0%
  • Nashville countryside retreat 0%
  • Tropical resort, no cameras 0%

Be the first to weigh in

This storyHow much does a Boston Dynamics 'Spot' robot dog cost police?

  1. Around $15,000
  2. Around $74,500
  3. Around $150,000
  4. Around $250,000
Guess, then reveal the answer

Around $74,500

In 2016, Dallas PD used a robot to kill a suspect — a U.S. first.

When a gunman killed 5 officers, Dallas police attached C-4 to a bomb disposal robot to end the standoff — sparking major legal debate over use of force and due process rights.

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