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Council OKs Axon AI-assisted report-writing agreement after public questions on accuracy and safeguards
Summary
The council approved a 30-month cooperative purchase agreement with Axon Enterprises for Draft 1 AI-assisted report-writing software, authorizing $259,914.73 over the contract term. Police Chief Sterling outlined safeguards and pilot results; residents asked about accuracy and whether AI could alter officer wording.
Lake Havasu City Council on Jan. 14 authorized a 30-month master services and purchase agreement with Axon Enterprises Inc. for Draft 1, an AI-assisted report-writing tool designed to transcribe and generate draft police reports from officers’ body-worn camera audio.
The council voted 6-0 to approve the agreement and to authorize the city manager to execute the documents. Councilmember David Diaz moved the approval; Councilmember Nancy Campbell seconded.
Police Chief Sterling told the council the software integrates with the department’s existing Axon body-camera and evidence.com platform. Sterling said the department piloted the tool and the pilot group reported a roughly 15-minute average savings per report. “The AI will actually generate a report on the audio portion of that,” Sterling said, and officers must complete required fields based on their own observations before finalizing and attesting to reports.
Sterling described purchasing the 30-month agreement via Sourcewell cooperative contract because the total will exceed $50,000. He said the first payment of $20,793.18 is available in the fiscal 2024–25 police operating budget and further appropriations totaling $259,914.73 will be requested in subsequent budget cycles.
During the public hearing residents raised concerns about accuracy and authorship. Emiliano Torres, a resident, asked, “I want the officer's words, not AI's suggested text,” and sought reassurance that officers would review and approve final narratives. Sterling replied the officer retains ultimate review and that the AI is not analyzing video—only the officer’s recorded audio—and that officers must attest they have read and agree with the final text.
Other residents asked whether multiple officers’ recordings would generate separate drafts and how video redaction requests would interact with evidence requests. Chief Sterling explained that each officer produces an initial or supplemental report tied to that officer’s audio, and redaction of video evidence remains a separate, minute-per-minute process for records staff.
The chief and council framed the purchase as a time- and labor-saving tool: Sterling estimated the department handles more than 7,000 reports per year and that automating parts of the narrative could free officer time for patrols and other duties. Council discussion noted engagement with the prosecutor’s office during pilots to ensure case handling and adjudication would not be affected.
The council’s motion authorized the city manager to execute the agreement and directed staff to proceed with contract administration and budget planning for the remaining term.
