Joliet police will use AI for police reports in 2025

The Joliet Police Department will begin using artificial intelligence technology designed to write police reports and provide language translation on the street.

The City Council on Tuesday, Dec. 17 approved a multi-year agreement with Axon Enterprises, the same company that equips Joliet police with body cameras, to provide AI technology through 2033.

The first AI system to be put in place will be Draft One, a system that basically writes police reports instead of the police but with information provided by the officers, Deputy Chief Chris Botzum told the council.

Botzum said Draft One will free up police for more time on patrol, which is becoming increasingly important in an era when police recruitment is challenging.

“We’re responding to a lot more calls now, and we don’t have enough people on the street,” Botzum said. “We have to be more efficient, and AI is one avenue to make this happen.”

Draft One will be put to use in 2025, Botzum said.

The agreement will put Joliet in a position to use other AI systems as they are developed, including one coming soon that will provide live language translations on the scene of an incident, Botzum.

Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy, left, speaks Joliet Police Deputy Chief Christopher Botzum and Sherrie Blackburn at the Speed Catches Up With You speed awareness campaign on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 in Joliet. — Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy, left, speaks Joliet Police Deputy Chief Chris Botzum at an event in July. (Gary Middendorf)

The city will pay $200,000 for AI services in 2025.

The contract provides for increased payments every year until it peaks at $684,000 in 2033.

“We’re responding to a lot more calls now, and we don’t have enough people on the street. We have to be more efficient, and AI is one avenue to make this happen.”
— Chris Botzum, Joliet deputy police chief

The council voted 7-1 for the contract with one member, Larry Hug, absent.

“We really feel strongly that this is going to save a lot of time moving forward,” Mayor Terry D’Arcy said of the AI services. “It will make things much more clear.”

Botzum said police reports generated by AI are expected to be more detailed because officers will provide information in real time rather than recalling facts later when writing reports.

The one no vote was from Councilman Cesar Guerrero, who said he was concerned about possible biases built into the systems.

“While it’s eliminating human error, how can we be sure it’s not making automated error?” Guerrero asked.