SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - The Springfield City Council signed a contract between the Springfield Police Department and Axon Enterprise Inc. for $5,785,000. 

In the itemized quote provided to City Council, the contract includes tasers, VR training devices, video storage and several kinds of software. The quote also include 274 units of "Axon Evidence- Redaction Assistant User License." According to the Axon website, the redaction assistant is: 

"Three AI-powered assistants are designed to auto-detect and mask screens, heads, and license plates throughout the video. Additionally, agencies with transcription can leverage the redact via audio transcript tool for single audio files to automatically redact identified words from the entire video."
 
Now, citizens and organizations are concerned about Artificial Intelligence (or AI) and its role in policing. 

"The reality is AI is often fraught with mistakes," said Ed Yohnka, Director of Communications and Public Policy for ACLU of Illinois. We know that when it comes to video, especially of people of color and women, that is often an area where AI is woefully lacking in its capacity to accurately make selections." 

Yohnka said the Department should have been explicit with members of the community that this type of technology would be used before implementing it. The contract was unanimously adopted by city council members. Brad Carlson, Ward seven alderman, says there isn't a need to be concerned. 

"The way Chief Scarlette explained to us was that this contract really gives us more transparency, more accountability, while at the same time gives them a little more streamlined process with the use of AI," said Carlson. "There is still going to be a human having to go through these reports." 

Axon also released a new AI tool this year called Draft One. It  drafts police reports based on the body-worn camera audio, according to their website. WAND has not received confirmation that the Springfield Police Department has purchased Draft One or will be using it. 

Yohnka says the use of AI is concerning, as it makes the body camera footage unbiased. With the technology being so new, it's hard to determine the wise way to use it. 

"A better example of transparency might actually to have been to share this out with the public before it was implemented," said Yohnka. "A better sense of accountability would have been to discuss with the community whether or not this was the kind of tool they wanted the police in their community to use before it was actually being used. That's what transparency and accountability is. It's not about what happens to a particular piece of video." 

The contract is five years long, spanning from November 1, 2024 to January 31, 2030. In 2025, the contract will cost $975,000. In 2026, the contract will cost $1,000,000. In 2027, the contract will cost $1,150,000. In 2028, the contract will cost $1,300,000. In 2029, the contract will cost $1,450,000. 

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