Law Enforcement Officials Concerned Over Waze Driving App

Some law enforcement officials are speaking out about their unhappiness with the Waze driving app which allows users to find out the location of police officers.

If you're not familiar, Waze is a free app that serves as a trip navigator and also offers functions which allow users to share with others road conditions, gas prices, accidents, construction and police locations. I downloaded this app in 2013 for a trip down south for a family funeral and have been hooked ever since. I love that I get a heads up about what's going on around me and can plan my route accordingly.

One of the law enforcement officials speaking out against the police locator function is the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Charlie Beck. Charlie Beck says he's not happy that the Waze app helps people find the locations of police officers."All information, total information is not good and I think all of us are becoming increasingly aware of that as technology increases."

Beck wrote a letter to Google criticizing the Waze, noting that the man who recently killed two New York police officers had the app on his phone. Beck says technology companies need to be responsible. "I think people that develop technology have a responsibility also and I just want them to take that into account, whether or not that moves Google, I don't know."

Google issued a statement in response that said many police agencies are fans of Waze because the ability to share traffic problems and road closures is helpful to police.

What do you think? Do you think Google should turn off the police locator feature or do you think they should leave it as it is?