Many law enforcement departments, including Massachusetts State Police, are adopting technology to help de-escalate tense scenes and obtain information to make strategic decisions to avoid a potential deadly encounter. WATCH HERE WATCH HEREBecause the windows were heavily tinted, police say they could not see the man inside, so they sent in a robot dog to break a hole in the window. In 2024, the first Massachusetts State Police robot dog, who went by Roscoe, was taken out of service following a standoff in Barnstable. Massachusetts State Police Massachusetts State PoliceThe troopers say the technology is their tool – but they still take on a personality. State police have two Spot robot dogs, one on either end of the state.