PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Artificial intelligence will be installed to help Portage Public Safety officers write police reports, despite concerns from city leaders.
Portage city council members had questions. Vic Ledbetter, a former Kalamazoo deputy chief, wondered if there might be accuracy problems.
Chief Nicholas Armold says they have tried out the new system with a few officers who are weak writers and a few techies and had no issues. He says the program takes the AXON body cameras they already use and transcribe the recordings into a report.
He says it’s more accurate and a lot quicker than having officers’ type or dictate their reports after the fact, which then have to be transcribed by a typist.
He says the AI produces the report in less than a minute, and the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office has signed off on their use, once they have been reviewed and edited for accuracy.
Council member Chris Burns wondered if officers could game the system, to color the report for the prosecutor. Chief Armold suggested that’s less likely now because the prosecutor can read the report and watch the video and see if they match.
Armold says they have tried out a couple of systems and this one has worked the best.
Ledbetter voted for the new AI system but says he remains skeptical.
The Portage City Council went ahead and authorized the purchase of the $93,000 AXON system.
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