Unprofessionalism at the Aurora Police Department saw a significant decrease when the agency implemented artificial intelligence (AI) software to review officers’ body-worn camera footage, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of South Carolina and Clemson University. The study, which examined a six-month period from July to December, found that incidents of officers using profanity, insults, threats, and inappropriate language dropped by 57% among 220 Aurora police officers.
The AI software, provided by Truleo, automated the review process by analyzing the audio in the videos for language deemed either professional or unprofessional. The software flagged instances of poor behavior and highlighted examples of good policing, focusing solely on the words spoken by officers. Prior to the implementation of this technology, the majority of body-worn camera footage went unreviewed due to staffing limitations.
The study divided the officers into three groups: a control group that did not receive feedback from Truleo, a self-auditing group that could review their own metrics, and a supervisor-mediated group that received feedback from their supervisors. Incidents of unprofessionalism decreased by 48% in the self-auditing group and by 67% in the supervisor-mediated group, compared to baseline rates. The control group’s results were not specified in the executive summary.
While the study’s findings are preliminary and have not undergone peer review, researcher Ian Adams commended the Aurora Police Department for their willingness to explore the use of AI technology. Truleo CEO Anthony Tassone expressed his desire for the Colorado Attorney General, Phil Weiser, to mandate the use of the software at the Aurora Police Department, which is currently undergoing court-ordered oversight and reform due to findings of racially biased policing.
The study also examined the impact of Truleo’s software on the Richland County Sheriff’s Department in South Carolina, where highly professional behavior increased by 82% over a six-month period. Highly professional behavior was defined as interactions where officers not only used appropriate language but also provided explanations to the public about their actions before taking any further steps.
The city of Aurora chose not to renew its contract with Truleo in March, citing concerns about the software’s accuracy in transcriptions. The city’s newest police chief, Todd Chamberlain, did not indicate whether he would reintroduce similar AI body-worn camera monitoring but expressed openness to utilizing emerging technologies to enhance the department’s commitment and service to the community.
