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Police chief highlights increased enforcement, DUI grant and new AI investigative tool access
Summary
Gunnison's police chief reported higher calls-for-service counts, a $15,000 DUI grant for in-car camera upgrades, and a benefactor-supported license program that granted the department access to an AI investigative tool (Tranquility AI/Time Pilot) for three to four licenses.
Gunnison's police chief told the council on Jan. 7 that the department recorded 912 calls for service over the past year and described a more proactive enforcement posture on Main Street and around schools.
The chief said the department won a $15,000 DUI grant to purchase in-car cameras that will tie into body cameras and record the 30 seconds before lights are activated. He said the technology will pair camera video with radar and improve evidentiary collection for traffic enforcement.
The chief also described a program with an AI vendor (referred to during the meeting as Tranquility AI; the system owner was called Time Pilot) that can parse many hours of body-camera and phone footage to surface relevant clips quickly. He said the vendor's licensing would typically cost about $50,000 per year for eight seats, which the city could not afford, but that a benefactor-funded grant application produced approval for four licenses for agencies with budgets under $10 million. The chief said the department is testing the system for investigative use and expects the licensure to be renewable through the benefactor program.
Councilors asked operational questions about where enforcement is focused and how the department determines deployment. The chief said citations spiked after staffing changes and that proactive patrols concentrate on Main Street, school zones and neighborhood areas when staffing allows.
The chief closed by encouraging council members to relay appreciation to officers and noting the department is pursuing technology and grant options to extend investigative capacity while controlling budget impacts.
