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Pocatello police seek $33,600 pilot for AI‑assisted report writing; council asks about privacy and admissibility
Summary
The Police Department requested council approval of a one‑year, $33,600 contract for a Code4 AI platform that analyzes body‑camera video to draft reports; presenters said data would be on‑site with two‑factor authentication and a 60‑day retention window, while council members raised privacy, evidentiary and training questions.
Captain Zach Barie and Chief Roger Shai told the council the department is piloting an AI‑driven platform (Code4) that analyzes body‑worn and dash camera footage and drafts reports officers can review and submit.
The department proposed a one‑year contract priced at $33,600, to be paid from the police department budget and contingent on vendor background checks, state licensing and legal review. Presenters described potential efficiencies for officers and investigators, saying the system produces draft narratives and evidence inventories that officers then review and refine. “It's only retained for approximately 60 days and then it's deleted and gone,” Captain Barie said when asked about retention.
Council questions focused on: where and how data are stored and whether footage or derived text leaves city control; who can access the generated drafts; training requirements and the risk that AI outputs could introduce inaccuracies or non‑existent citations; and whether courts will accept AI‑assisted drafts. Police said the pilot is on site, uses two‑factor authentication, includes supervisory review before reports are submitted to the Spillman CAD system, and that legal staff and the county prosecutor's office have been briefed on disclosure language for reports that used AI drafting.
Why it matters: the department said the tool can reduce time spent on report writing and potentially reduce requests for additional staffing; council members emphasized the need for clear local controls, audit trails and disclosure for any AI‑assisted material submitted as evidence.
Next steps: the department will return to council with final vendor background checks and legal agreements; council requested written details on data security, retention, audit logs, training and the proposed vendor contract before voting.
