San Diego Police Department Is Weighing Using AI to Write Police Reports

Earlier this year, the San Diego Police Department made headlines for a policy that prohibited officers from using artificial intelligence to produce police reports. Now, the department is opening the door to do just that.

The goal of this initiative is to enhance efficiency in report writing, thereby allowing officers to respond more quickly to calls for service,” the request for information reads.

The request for information notes that the program must allow users to maintain control over the “content and structure of their reports.” It also notes that it is not a request for proposals and is being issued “solely for information gathering and planning purposes.” The document estimates the contract value to be somewhere between $500,000 and $3 million.

In an email, SDPD spokesperson Ashley Nicholes emphasized that the department is just in an “exploration phase” during which they are working to learn what’s out there and what best practices for such technology is. Should they choose to pursue AI-assisted police report programs, they would conduct outreach to elected officials and community members, she said.