FORT COLLINS, Colorado — Artificial intelligence is making its way into police stations across the United States, transforming how officers draft reports. In Fort Collins, Officer Scott Brittingham — who once spent 45 minutes on a single report — now completes the same task in just 10 minutes thanks to Draft One, an AI-powered software developed by law enforcement tech company Axon.
Initially skeptical, Brittingham quickly saw the benefits: more time to respond to calls and focus on crime prevention rather than being tied to a desk. Draft One generates a first draft based on body camera transcripts, which officers then review and customize before submission. The AI is trained to minimize errors and includes bracketed blanks to prompt officers to verify details.
How Draft One Works
After an interaction is recorded on an officer’s body camera, the transcript is fed into Draft One. The AI instantly creates a draft report, which appears within seconds. Officers must review, correct, and complete blank fields before signing off. The final report is intended to be entirely in the officer’s voice, even if AI helps structure it.
Growing Use Across the Country
Since launching last year, Draft One has become Axon’s fastest-growing product, with adoption in cities such as Lafayette, Indiana; Tampa, Florida; and Campbell, California. Fort Collins rolled it out to all officers after a successful pilot phase. Technology Sergeant Bob Younger estimates the tool has cut report-writing time by nearly 70%.
Balancing Efficiency and Accountability
Supporters argue AI can make reports more accurate, detailed, and consistent. However, critics — including legal experts and civil rights advocates — worry about potential biases, factual inaccuracies, and transparency issues. Police reports are vital in the justice system, influencing prosecutorial decisions, bail hearings, and even court outcomes. Errors in AI transcripts, such as misinterpreting accents or missing nonverbal cues, could have serious consequences.
Some jurisdictions are addressing these concerns through regulation. Utah now requires police departments to disclose when AI is used in report writing. While Fort Collins does not include such disclaimers, Axon offers an opt-in setting to require edits before submission.
The Road Ahead
Axon continues to refine Draft One in collaboration with academics, prosecutors, and community leaders. While the technology promises efficiency, its success depends on officers’ diligence and ethical use. As Brittingham puts it, “It’s not replacing us — it’s a tool to help us write reports better and faster.”
