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LANSING - As police departments struggle with finding enough staff to perform basic functions, some are using an AI program to save time on reports.
Draft One by Axon is "a force multiplier," according to the company's website. It claims to cut the time needed to write a police report in half by analyzing body camera footage.
Arizona-based Axon Enterprise is one of the largest public safety AI technology companies in the country.
Several Michigan police departments, such as Portage's, use this software.
Portage Assistant Police Chief Mike Collier said that Draft One is saving his department hours of time.
While Collier said his department is fully staffed for the first time in 20 years, he said using AI to help with reports allows officers to be out and do more in the community.
"It's actually making our officers better because it is going off what the body cam is hearing and recording. So, when that officer arrives, they're verbalizing their observations, making reports more accurate," Collier said.
Portage Assistant Police Chief Mike Collier. (Portage Police Department.)
Meanwhile, Ron Wiles, the executive director of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, warns against relying solely on AI for reports.
"It sounds like a possibly a decent idea, but there are a lot of pitfalls with that as well," Wiles said.
"AI makes errors. The officer still has to take the time to properly vet that report and make sure it properly says what the officer wants to convey," he said.
Wiles said that police departments should use AI as a tool, rather than an "end all, be all."
Ron Wiles, executive director of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.
While Axon markets Draft One as a time-saver for officers, a 2024 study from the University of South Carolina found that the AI tool had no impact on the time it took to write a report.
However, a follow-up report from the university in 2025 found that patrol officers and supervisors found improvement in time and quality while using Draft One.
While AI assistance may make officers believe they are saving time, especially with staffing shortages, Wiles said AI must be overseen to protect peoples' liberties and rights.
AI can make errors that jeopardize cases in court, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a letter to Wayne County police chiefs.
Because of that, Worthy said she is working on a policy for AI use by police and public safety departments in the county.
Kiera Kamppainen is a junior majoring in political science and journalism with a concentration in writing, reporting, and editing. Her journalistic interests include government and community-focused news.