Denver7 Features R&H on Risks of AI-Generated Police Reports

Police departments across Colorado are embracing artificial intelligence to boost efficiency, but defense attorneys warn the technology could have unintended consequences inside the courtroom. Denver 7 turned to Robinson & Henry Criminal Defense Senior Associate Anna Trobee for her legal insight in the story Wheat Ridge Police Department using artificial intelligence to generate reports, hoping for efficiency.

“When there’s that level of disconnect, and you don’t have the direct human connection anymore, I think that that just creates a possibility for a whole, a whole host of problems,” said Trobee.

The Wheat Ridge Police Department is one of the latest to adopt Draft One, a new AI-powered platform developed by Axon, the same company that supplies the department with body cameras. The program takes audio, video, and GPS data captured by body cams and generates a draft of an officer’s report.

The Wheat Ridge Department spokesperson says the technology is designed to streamline paperwork but not replace human oversight.

While police see efficiency, Trobee cautioned that police reports are the foundation of many cases and that AI-generated drafts could erode accountability in the courtroom. 

“Up until this point, you have a police officer who is testifying on the stand to what they recall about the facts and circumstances of the case,” she said. “Now there’s no longer that person that’s accountable for what’s written in the report, right? You can have a police officer on the stand who says, well, that’s not exactly what happened. If you review my body worn camera, you know, that’ll be exactly what happened,” Trobee said.

For defense attorneys, that shift opens the door to questioning credibility. Trobee said the change “does create opportunities to poke holes in the prosecution’s case,” but she emphasized that accuracy must remain the top priority.

“I think the AI is a great tool. But in this line of work, you’re dealing with human beings, and you’re dealing with people’s lives,” she said. “If it’s you and your rights being impacted, right, do you want to be that last report that that officer is going through and just like typing in whatever they need to?”

The Wheat Ridge Police Department says it has safeguards, including intentionally placing nonsensical sentences into draft reports so officers must review and edit them. 

As more departments consider adopting AI-generated reports, Trobee believes the justice system must continue to prioritize accountability and transparency.