Leveraging artificial intelligence, law enforcement agencies are embracing technology to analyze body camera footage, aiming to foster greater trust and transparency within their communities. Truleo, an AI-powered platform, is at the forefront of this movement, automatically identifying critical incidents from bodycam recordings, including use-of-force situations, pursuits, frisks, and even analyzing officer language for professionalism.
This technology empowers supervisors with rapid access to automated analysis, enabling swift evaluation of officer conduct. A veteran officer with nearly two decades on the force emphasized the protective nature of this technology, stating it helps “stop a problem before it becomes an issue.”
Truleo's CEO and co-founder, Anthony Tassone, points out that while many agencies transcribe bodycam footage, less than 1% is thoroughly reviewed. His company's AI strives to address this gap by providing analysis within minutes. Tassone suggests that this technology could have identified problematic behavior patterns in cases like the Tyre Nichols tragedy, providing early warnings to supervisors.
Currently partnered with 20 U.S. police departments, including Anaheim, California, and Aurora, Colorado, Truleo plans to expand its reach to 10-15 more departments by 2024.
Chief Bill Partridge of the Oxford, Alabama police department, a three-year user of Truleo, highlights its role in ensuring officer accountability and professional service to the community. However, the Seattle Police Department recently discontinued a pilot program with the technology following public reaction to reports about its use.
While proponents tout the benefits of AI-driven analysis, critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), express concerns about transparency and oversight, arguing that technology cannot replace community review of police conduct. Tassone counters that Truleo's AI is a tool that enhances, not replaces, human review, increasing efficiency and allowing for the analysis of vast amounts of video footage.
Truleo's data indicates a 36% reduction in use-of-force incidents and a 99% adherence to professional standards in one partner department.
Truleo's annual pricing, ranging from $10,000 to $250,000, is scaled based on agency size, with an average cost of $50,000 for a 100-officer department.
