Police Officers Are Using AI to Write Police Reports

AI in policing: A new frontier for report writing: Law enforcement agencies across the United States are exploring the use of artificial intelligence to streamline the process of writing crime reports, marking a significant shift in police documentation practices.

The technology at work: Draft One, an AI-powered software developed by Axon, utilizes the same underlying technology as ChatGPT to generate initial drafts of incident reports based on officers’ body camera audio.

• Oklahoma City police Sgt. Matt Gilmore experienced firsthand the efficiency of this technology, which produced a report in just 8 seconds using his body camera audio.
• The AI focuses primarily on audio analysis rather than video, due to sensitivities surrounding visual identification in law enforcement contexts.
• Officers are required to indicate when AI has been used in generating a report, ensuring transparency in the documentation process.

Potential benefits and time-saving: The implementation of AI in report writing offers several advantages for law enforcement agencies and officers on the ground.

• The technology could significantly reduce the time officers spend on administrative tasks, allowing them to focus more on active policing duties.
• AI-generated reports have the potential to be more accurate and consistent, potentially improving the quality of documentation.
• The use of AI might encourage officers to provide more detailed verbal descriptions during incidents, knowing that the information will be captured for report generation.

Varying adoption and usage: Different police departments are approaching the use of AI-generated reports with varying levels of caution and application.

• Oklahoma City limits the use of AI to minor incidents without arrests, taking a conservative approach to implementation.
• Lafayette, Indiana has adopted a more liberal stance, allowing AI use for any type of case.
• Fort Collins, Colorado permits AI use for all reports but has identified limitations in noisy environments, highlighting the technology’s current constraints.

Concerns and potential risks: The integration of AI in police report writing has raised several important concerns among experts and stakeholders.

• There are questions about how AI-generated reports might impact criminal prosecutions and their admissibility in court.
• The potential for racial biases in AI technology is a significant concern, given the historical issues of bias in law enforcement.
• The risk of AI hallucinations, where the system might inadvertently add false information to reports, poses a serious threat to the integrity of police documentation.

Expert opinions and calls for public discourse: As the use of AI in policing continues to evolve, there is a growing demand for broader discussion and scrutiny of the technology.

• Some experts are calling for more public dialogue about the benefits and potential harms of using AI in police report writing.
• The need for careful consideration of the ethical implications and potential unintended consequences of this technology is becoming increasingly apparent.

Looking ahead: Balancing innovation and caution: The introduction of AI in police report writing represents a significant technological advancement in law enforcement, but it also brings complex challenges that require careful navigation.

• As the technology continues to develop, it will be crucial for law enforcement agencies to strike a balance between leveraging the efficiency gains of AI and maintaining the integrity and accountability of their reporting processes.
• Ongoing evaluation and refinement of AI implementation policies will be necessary to address concerns and optimize the technology’s use in policing.
• The future of AI in law enforcement will likely depend on how well agencies can address the current limitations and concerns while maximizing the potential benefits of this innovative technology.