The Lakeland Police Department (LPD) has proposed a major technology overhaul that would expand its contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc., adding a suite of artificial intelligence tools and hardware upgrades.
Presented by Assistant Chief of Police Hans Lehman at the city’s strategic planning workshop, the 10-year, $21.3 million proposal represents an annual increase of $1.2 million over the city’s current agreement. LPD is aiming to lock in the contract as an “AI Plan Era Early Adopter” to protect against rising software prices.
Breakdown of the Proposed Spending
The overarching $21.3 million plan isn’t exclusively for AI software; it is a bundled infrastructure and tech upgrade package:
- $10.67 Million: Axon hardware and software upgrades, including a complete refresh of body cameras, in-car cameras, and tasers.
- $9.66 Million: LPD’s portion of a citywide public safety radio replacement project.
- $780,000: A 5-year contract for Peregrine crime analytics software, which integrates directly with the Axon database.
Key AI Tools and Features Included
Assistant Chief Lehman pitched the technology as a force multiplier for the department’s 278 officers, arguing that for the annual cost of hiring 4 or 5 new officers, the entire department gets access to efficiency-boosting software.
1. AI-Generated Incident Reports
Instead of returning to a computer to type out lengthy administrative files, officers will be trained to narrate details directly to their body-worn cameras while still on the scene. The AI will then ingest that audio and draft the report.
2. Instant Body Cam Translation
The software can automatically detect and immediately translate more than 50 languages through the body cameras and 911 dispatch lines, reducing the reliance on on-call human translators during time-sensitive calls.
3. Integrated “Google-Like” Database Search
The upgrade merges fragmented data systems into a unified platform. Investigators will be able to run broad, natural-language queries across the system to search for specific vehicle types, suspect descriptions, or clothing items from “call to closure.”
4. Axon 911 Assistive AI
The software includes AI tools designed to field and process non-emergency calls. LPD intends for this to ease the burden on its Public Safety Communications Center, which has battled persistent dispatcher vacancies for years.
Oversight and Implementation
Recognizing potential public concern over data tracking and privacy, Lehman emphasized that the platforms maintain strict audit trails to log exactly who accesses information and why. The department plans to enforce a “zero-tolerance policy” for database misuse.
State Attorney Brian Haas also weighed in, noting that while the technology could streamline operations, prosecutors will continue to closely audit cases to ensure accuracy and maintain rigorous standards for criminal investigations…