Boulder police are using AI to write their crime reports, while some are urging caution

Earlier this year, the Boulder Police Department began using artificial intelligence to transcribe body camera footage and create police reports. This measure, according to officials, saves time and improves report writing.

Last month, the department adopted a new AI policy. However, some community members are urging caution against widespread use of these new technologies without adequate safeguards.

The department's use of AI technology was discussed this week during Police Chief Steve Redfearn's first meeting with the Police Oversight Board since his promotion earlier this month. The 11-member volunteer panel reviews investigations into complaints of officer misconduct and advises on department policies.

“It's probably one of the biggest and most exciting technological changes in policing that I've seen since I started,” Redfearn told the jury Monday night. “In all the test cases we conducted, we found no problematic issues.”

The AI ​​tool was first tested by the Boulder Police Department in January 2024, he said. The tool was developed by Axon, a company known for developing the Taser and body-worn cameras, and is called Draft One. It uses the same underlying technology as ChatGPT to create narratives of police reports based on body-worn camera footage.

Redfearn said Boulder police were initially reluctant to use the new tool and began filing reports on less serious crimes such as shoplifting and theft. However, the Boulder County District Attorney's Office has requested that the use be expanded to include all crimes, he said. This includes criminal offenses and violent crimes.

About 26 officers currently use Draft One, Redfearn said. He said it reduced personal bias in reports and also improved the overall quality of reports. He shared the hypothesis that an officer might fail to take notes during a domestic violence call because they don't believe the person they are speaking to. “So it really eliminates the possibility that an officer, for whatever reason, isn’t doing a great job,” he said.

The technology also saves officers about 30 minutes per report, giving them more time for more proactive policing, he said.

“It’s also really consistent with Reimagine Policing,” he said, pointing to the city’s long-term police reform plan that focuses on data analysis and crime prevention. “It allows our officers to be on the streets.”

This isn't the first time the Boulder Police Department has used AI. For example, the department uses 31 automatic license plate readers, primarily to track stolen vehicles. Nationally, AI-powered license plate readers and facial recognition software have raised concerns about privacy, errors and racial bias. Draft One is primarily designed to optimize workflows.

On September 19, 2024, the Boulder Police Department adopted a policy allowing the use of Draft One for various law enforcement documents, including police reports, affidavits and statements. The policy requires all AI-generated reports to be reviewed by officials.

The Police Oversight Board had mixed reactions to the department's use of Draft One. Madelyn Strong Woodley, a social justice advocate from Longmont and member of the Boulder County NAACP, said she felt encouraged by it. Maria-Soledad Diaz, panel co-chair and public policy director at Violence Free Colorado, called for a live demonstration at a future meeting.

Mylene Vialard, a freelance translator, warned officials against approving erroneous AI-generated reports because ChatGPT is known to hallucinate. She said that while AI can produce reports that appear to be well-written, the content may lack substance. Vialard also raised questions about the potential bias of generative AI models.

“They are only as smart as we train them. “And when your officers correct a report, is that fed back to train the software?” Vialard said. “That would be something really important. Are we giving the machine feedback so the machine can become smarter?”

Other police departments in Colorado and across the country use Draft One, although some limit it to minor reports that do not result in arrests, as some experts have questioned whether AI-generated reports will hold up in court. The Boulder County Sheriff's Office does not use Draft One, a spokesman said.

John Herrick is a reporter for The Boulder Reporting Lab. His work appears frequently on KUNC 91.5 FM and online at KUNC.org. Contact John at [email protected].