In order to produce real time transcriptions of police encounters and instant police reports while officers are still at the scenes they were called to the city decided earlier this week to integrate the AI tool into body worn cameras.
Additionally, the AI tool will translate languages in real time.
The community is questioning the city council’s decision to add the AI tool to Chula Vista policing, which was approved by a unanimous vote on Tuesday.
“It makes you wonder, ‘Where are they going with this?'” What will they do with this? How will it be put into practice? “What kind of oversight, if any, is going to be?” asked Arvy Polanco, a Chula Vista employee.
AI tool according to the policing, it will operate as follows: The Axon AI tool will create a video transcription and write a report while the officer is wearing a body camera.
“You know, they don’t have the context if they’re just copying words from transcripts.” Kary Miller, who lives in Chula Vista, said. “You don’t see the feeling that it was said with, you don’t see the emotion.”
According to the police, officers must first acknowledge that the report was created using an AI tool, then check it for accuracy before approving it. Following their supervisor’s approval, it will proceed through the normal chain of command before reaching the DA’s office.
The four-year, $1 million contract will save officers up to three hours of report writing per shift, allowing officers to respond to more emergency calls, according to police, who also said that the introduction of Axon AI technology will make police reports more structured, consistent, and comprehensive.
The San Diego Privacy group’s Seth Hall wonders if efficiency could be expensive.
“The Chula Vista Police Department will save time on this, but I would encourage everyone to understand that the goal of policing is not to save time,” Hall stated. “Policing is meant to proceed slowly and deliberately because it can seriously injure those involved.”
Although he doesn’t object to this use of AI, Polanco acknowledged that the tool could be helpful to officers and stated that the Chula Vista Police Department should exercise caution in its application.
Polanco stated, “I think it should be very gradual.” “I would describe it as deliberate but gradual.”
