AI in Policing: Examining the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Law Enforcement

In a significant shift toward technological modernization, police departments across the United States are now deploying artificial intelligence to streamline one of law enforcement’s most tedious administrative tasks: writing police reports.

The U.S. Department of Justice reports that several departments have begun implementing AI software systems that integrate directly with officers’ body cameras. The technology works by uploading footage to cloud servers where AI applications transcribe audio and generate preliminary police reports in minutes—a process that traditionally takes officers hours to complete manually.

This technological advancement addresses a straightforward goal: maximizing officers’ time in the community while minimizing desk work. The innovation comes as departments nationwide struggle with staffing shortages and increasing administrative burdens.

The AI systems, however, operate within strict parameters. They don’t analyze video content or make subjective assessments about incidents. Instead, they function purely as transcription tools, converting officers’ verbal narratives into written text. Officers using these systems are encouraged to provide detailed verbal descriptions during incidents, as the quality of the resulting report depends entirely on what is articulated aloud.

“If an officer verbally notes that a suspect appears intoxicated, that observation becomes part of the written record,” explained one DOJ source. “The body camera footage then serves as supporting evidence that can be reviewed later to confirm or challenge that assessment.”

Major technology providers in this space include Axon’s Draft One and Truleo’s Field Notes. The workflow typically begins with officers selecting an incident category such as a traffic stop or domestic disturbance. After the AI generates an initial draft, officers review the content, complete any missing information fields, make necessary corrections, and provide final approval. Each report explicitly acknowledges the use of AI in its preparation, with officers maintaining full legal responsibility for the content.

Detective Jason Lucas of the Oklahoma City Police Department, quoted in the DOJ’s Community Policing Dispatch Office publication, emphasized the technology’s efficiency benefits: “We’re saving hours on each report, and sometimes the system captures details officers might not even remember hearing during high-stress situations.”

Lucas also suggested that exposure to well-structured AI drafts might improve officers’ writing skills over time, potentially raising the overall quality of police documentation.

The financial investment in this technology reflects growing confidence in its potential. According to market analysis from Consulting & Insights, the AI-in-law-enforcement sector is projected to nearly double from $3.5 billion in 2024 to $6.6 billion by 2033, signaling widespread adoption across U.S. police departments.

Despite enthusiasm from early adopters, the implementation has not been without concerns. Legal experts have raised questions about transparency, potential bias in machine-learning algorithms, and most critically, how courts will view reports created with AI assistance.

“The admissibility question remains largely untested,” said one legal observer. “Will judges and juries view AI-assisted reports differently than traditionally prepared documentation? Will defense attorneys have new grounds to challenge police testimony?”

These uncertainties have prompted caution in implementation strategies. Oklahoma City’s police leadership consulted with both district attorneys and federal prosecutors before deploying the technology. While some prosecutors expressed support, others adopted a wait-and-see approach, particularly regarding how defense attorneys might challenge such reports in court.

As a precautionary measure, the Oklahoma City Police Department currently restricts AI report writing to minor incidents that don’t result in arrests—effectively creating a testing ground while minimizing legal risks.

The integration of AI into police report writing represents a balancing act between operational efficiency and legal integrity. As departments continue exploring this technology, they navigate complex questions of transparency, community trust, and judicial acceptance.

For a profession often caught between community demands for greater presence and administrative requirements that keep officers at their desks, AI-assisted report writing offers a potential solution—albeit one that continues to evolve with each implementation.