In a groundbreaking move, the Chula Vista Police Department will become the first law enforcement agency in San Diego County to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) tools for officers’ written police reports and public interactions.
On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved the implementation of a suite of AI policing technologies designed to enhance officers’ efficiency during encounters with the public.
This innovative system, which will be integrated into officers’ body-worn cameras, is capable of generating real-time transcriptions of police encounters along with producing near-instantaneous police reports while officers are still at the scene of incidents.
Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy emphasized the significant time savings that AI technology would provide. Officers typically spend a considerable portion of their shifts—at least three hours per 10-hour shift—writing reports. With AI, Chief Kennedy believes they can create more detailed accounts without sacrificing time spent within the community.
“I never had anything like this,” said Kennedy, highlighting the transformative potential of the AI tools for the police department.
The recently approved four-year, $1 million contract with Axon, a police technology company, is aimed at revolutionizing police work in Chula Vista. Axon’s AI suite, known as Axon AI Era Leaders, will not only facilitate video transcription and report-writing but also include features such as a real-time language translation assistant and interactive access to department procedure manuals.
A select group of approximately eight officers tested these AI tools for several months before the Council’s vote. Kennedy noted that all 110 patrol officers are set to receive training and begin utilizing the new technology later in the year.
While Chula Vista is stepping into the future with these advancements, the broader adoption of AI in law enforcement has raised concerns among civil liberties advocates. Critics argue that AI technology, still in its infancy, poses risks through inaccuracies and biases that could harm high-stakes policing outcomes.
Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union, expressed skepticism about AI’s reliability, labeling it as “quirky and unreliable.” In a report published late last year, Stanley suggested that although officers could review and correct AI-generated reports, the reality remains that many errors could inadvertently make their way into official documents, potentially leading to injustices.
In January, the prosecuting attorney’s office in King County, Washington, which includes Seattle, communicated concerns about AI-generated police reports. They informed local police agencies that such reports would not be accepted because of inaccuracies, including instances where reports referenced officers who were not present at the scene.
A spokesperson for the San Diego County District Attorney’s office stated that there is currently no explicit policy regarding the use of AI for video transcription by police agencies but emphasized that cases would be evaluated based on the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Amid these debates, Axon asserts that its AI products are equipped with multiple safeguards designed to ensure the accuracy and bias-free nature of video transcripts and generated reports, which will still require human oversight.
“The future of public safety depends on responsible innovation,” Axon’s spokesperson remarked, underscoring the company’s commitment to ensuring ethical AI integration.
Chula Vista Assistant Chief of Police Dan Peak assured City Council members on Tuesday that the introduction of AI tools would not compromise the quality of police work. He affirmed that officers will still proofread and finalize all reports, and a supervisory process will be in place to ensure thorough accuracy.
“Officers are accountable for the accuracy of their reports, even in court,” Peak explained, emphasizing the ongoing importance of human diligence in police documentation.
The benefits of using AI tools in policing, according to Peak, extend beyond report generation. The technology allows officers to interact with the AI before and during incidents, which can enhance the accuracy of the information collected in real-time.
Despite the mixed sentiments surrounding AI in policing, Chief Kennedy expressed optimism about its potential role in law enforcement. “Everyone is afraid of AI,” she said, “But if you learn how to prompt AI, you’d be amazed at the information you can get.”
Kennedy concluded, “AI is only as good as the hands that use it,” indicating a hopeful perspective on the integration of technology into everyday police work. As Chula Vista embarks on this journey, the implications of AI utilization in law enforcement remain to be seen.
image source from：voiceofsandiego
