Boulder Police deploy drones and AI to enhance emergency response

The Boulder Police Department is implementing new technologies to enhance emergency response and manage call volumes. The department has launched a Public Safety Information Center, which features 10 workstations and a central command room to monitor live camera feeds and drone operations.

Through a ‘drone-as-first-responder’ program, officers can deploy drones to investigate reports quickly. In one recent instance, a drone located a man reported to be armed within two and a half minutes; the footage revealed the individual was actually repairing a wheelchair with a wrench, allowing police to respond with a single officer rather than a large unit.

Additionally, the department is introducing an AI assistant named ‘ANET’ (Automated Non-Emergency Triage) to handle non-emergency calls. Developed by Axon, the AI will manage reports regarding abandoned vehicles, traffic crashes without injuries, and animal complaints. This initiative aims to free up human dispatchers to focus on high-priority calls involving serious threats of harm and violence.