How AI is Being Used by Police Departments to Help Draft Reports
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming nearly every industry, and now it’s making its way into one of the most crucial parts of law enforcement — police reporting. Across the United States, police departments are testing and adopting AI-powered tools like Axon’s Draft One, a software designed to generate first drafts of police reports directly from body camera footage. The aim is to make reporting faster, more efficient, and in some cases, more accurate. But while this technology is gaining traction, it’s also raising big questions about accountability, transparency, and potential biases.
For officers like Scott Brittingham of Fort Collins, Colorado, the technology has already been a game-changer. A report that once took him nearly 45 minutes can now be completed in just 10 minutes. That time saved means he can respond to more calls, engage more with the community, and focus on crime prevention rather than paperwork. Initially skeptical, Brittingham now views Draft One as a tool that lets him do more of what he signed up for — serve and protect.
So, how does it work? When an officer records an interaction on their body camera, the transcript is fed into Draft One, which generates a draft report almost instantly. Officers must review and edit the draft, filling in blank sections or correcting inaccuracies before submitting it as final. The software is built on a modified version of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, customized and tested by Axon to minimize errors. Axon also works with academics, community leaders, and restorative justice advocates to make sure the system addresses concerns about fairness and bias.
The tool is already being used in places like Lafayette, Indiana; Tampa, Florida; and Campbell, California, with many more departments showing interest. Police agencies, struggling with staffing shortages, see AI as a practical way to give officers more time to focus on safety instead of being bogged down by paperwork. A survey by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 2024 revealed that most agencies were operating at least 10% below authorized staffing levels, making efficiency tools like Draft One highly appealing.
Still, not everyone is convinced. Legal experts and civil rights groups warn that AI-generated reports could introduce new problems into the justice system. Reports are more than just paperwork — they play a central role in prosecutions, court testimonies, and decisions about bail or charges. Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, a law professor at American University, calls them “an accountability mechanism” and worries that even small errors could carry serious consequences. Misinterpretations of accents, missed nonverbal cues, or overreliance on AI-generated language could all potentially shape outcomes in ways that aren’t fair.
Some prosecutors are already pushing back. In King County, Washington, the prosecutor’s office said it would not accept reports drafted with AI due to concerns about inaccuracies. Transparency is also a sticking point: Should defendants know if the report in their case was drafted by AI? Axon includes a default disclaimer in reports stating that AI was used, but departments can choose to remove it. While Utah recently passed a law requiring disclosure whenever AI is involved in a police report, many states have yet to follow.
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Proponents of the tool say the risks are manageable, especially since officers must still review and approve every report. Supporters argue that AI can actually improve accountability by ensuring reports are more detailed, comprehensive, and consistent. Critics, however, warn that if the technology isn’t carefully monitored, it could embed bias and undermine trust in the criminal justice system.
Ultimately, Draft One is neither a magic solution nor a replacement for human judgment. As Officer Brittingham himself put it, “It’s not the fix. It’s not replacing us writing reports. It’s just a tool to help us with writing reports.” Like many AI tools being rolled out today, its impact will depend largely on how responsibly it’s used, how transparently it’s managed, and how closely its limitations are acknowledged.
As AI continues to reshape industries, policing is entering uncharted territory. If applied carefully, tools like Draft One could help overstretched police departments become more efficient, giving officers more time for the work that matters most. But with lives and freedoms at stake, the margin for error remains razor-thin — making transparency and oversight more important than ever.
