Siri, get me rewrite ... New Haven’s police chief has a new strategy to get cops out from behind the desk and into the city’s neighborhoods — police reports written by artificial intelligence.The new report system, Draft One, is part of a suite of technology and equipment that the New Haven Police Department (NHPD) would purchase from police tech company Axon as part of a new five-year, $7.6 million contract. The proposed agreement also includes more dashboard and body cameras, tasers, and software to live stream drone footage, among other supplies. The proposal was unanimously approved by the Board of Alders Public Safety Committee at City Hall Tuesday night and now heads to the full Board of Alders for a final vote. At Tuesday’s hearing, Jacobson pitched Draft One, which he described as a ​“pilot program”, as a way to reduce the time officers spend writing reports. The chief estimated cops currently spend between two and two-and-a-half hours writing reports on an eight-hour shift, which the technology could reduce by 65 percent. “That’s an hour and 15 minutes more that [officers] can be driving around the neighborhoods looking, you know, being visibly present,” Jacobson said. ​“That’s our big problem right now. We have the type of thefts that if we have more officers visibly present, it’s going to reduce that type of crime.” The pilot comes amid the ratification of a new police union contract, which Jacobson anticipates will put more cops on the streets, and complaints about crime, especially car thefts, in Beaver Hills.So how would the Draft One pilot work? TrueVoteShould police reports be written by artificial intelligence?VoteResultsPoll OptionsYesNoNot sureOnly if the AI incloods spellcheckVoting ends 11/21/26You haven’t voted yetSubmit Your VoteResultsTotal submissions: 43Yes: 12 votes (27.91%)No: 27 votes (62.79%)Not sure: 2 votes (4.65%)Only if the AI incloods spellcheck: 2 votes (4.65%)©2024 New Haven IndependentJacobson told the alders that the program would start with 10 – 15 officers using the technology to write reports, which it generates from uploaded audio from officer-worn body cameras. The pilot would last between three and six months, and the department would compare the reports to ones written by officers.According to Lt. Sean Maher, the pilot would also start with ​“lower-level calls” like stolen cars or property damage, before moving on to arrest reports.In an interview after the hearing, Jacobson said that officers would have to certify that each fact in AI-generated reports is true. He said the department has worked with New Haven State’s Attorney John Doyle to create a checkbox system that ensures the reports are admissible in court.And in the case the Draft One technology doesn’t work, Jacobson told the alders there was a provision where they could get their money back. (The technology itself costs $187,000.)“We don’t know yet [about Draft One],” Jacobson testified. ​“We’ll be one of the first police departments in the state doing it. That’s why we got that failsafe if it doesn’t work.”Despite some uncertainty surrounding the technology, committee alders praised the embrace of AI, arguing that it would give their constituents what they want: more police on the streets and increased accountability from officers.“I’m so excited about this I can’t even sit in my seat right,” West Hills Alder Honda Smith said. ​“Normally people will say, ​‘Well, I didn’t say it this way. I didn’t say it that way.’ Now it’s going to be recorded and it’s going to be played back with a transcript.”For Newhallville Alder Brittiany Mabery-Niblack, the most frequent complaint she hears from constituents is that there aren’t enough police on the street or that their response times are too slow. She hopes Draft One will fix that.“Any technology that can be used to help our police officers help our constituents is a very good idea,” Mabery-Niblack said. ​“Especially if these new forms of technology are allowing them to have more time on the streets, more time patrolling, more time talking and getting to know the neighbors in the city.”At the urging of committee chair and Beaver Hills Alder Brian Wingate, the committee planned for NHPD leadership to return with an update on the pilot within the next six months.Chief Jacobson (right), Asst. Chief Bhagtana and Lt. Maher: AI reports could help cops be more "visibly present." Public Safety Committee alders: We approve.