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Richmond police chief says AI software will help case summaries; council approves purchase
Summary
Police Chief Scott Bagley told the council that CentralSquare Centerline AI software can summarize interviews, records and body camera footage and described it as the "future of law enforcement." Council approved an initial purchase not to exceed $1,147.50 and noted a $1,350 annual fee to be budgeted in future years; vote was 7‑0.
Police Chief Scott Bagley told the Richmond City Council on June 24 that CentralSquare Centerline AI software will help the department construct narrative summaries from interviews, records and body camera footage and recommended buying the program.
"I learned about this software at the Chief's Conference earlier this year and am confident that this is the future of law enforcement," Bagley said. He told councilors the software has been used by other agencies and confirmed an annual subscription fee of $1,350 that the department will include in future budgets.
Councilor June Paige asked whether the system would "hold up in court." Bagley replied that other agencies have used the software in cases, which he cited as precedent for its operational and evidentiary use; the minutes do not record independent legal analysis of admissibility.
The council approved a purchase not to exceed $1,147.50, funded from the Police Donations revenue line (10‑11‑00‑48212), with a planned line‑item transfer to document the expense at year‑end. Councilors voted 7‑0 on the motion.
Budget and oversight: Chief Bagley confirmed the department will include the $1,350 annual fee in future budgets. The minutes do not record further contractual details (license term, vendor contract number or data‑handling policies) and do not include explicit guidance on review or audit of AI outputs; those items will require follow up by the Police Department and city staff.
What happens next: The department will complete the purchase and staff will include the subscription cost in upcoming budget cycles; council minutes indicate staff will perform the administrative transfers necessary to record the expenditure.
