Across public safety, AI for law enforcement is no longer viewed as a distant possibility. It is quickly becoming central to how agencies plan, respond and keep their communities safe.
According to a study published by Verizon, 71% of respondents (first responders) believe AI will either be a top priority or important to the future of public safety.
The real question is no longer if AI should be used in public safety, but how.
Empower your public safety agency with AI for law enforcement
Preparing the foundation
Agencies that succeed with AI begin by laying the right groundwork. That means committing to continuous learning and staying current with emerging technology. Leaders should encourage personnel to explore how AI could support their day-to-day work while ensuring teams regularly evaluate new capabilities that could enhance safety outcomes.
Participation in professional associations, industry forums and vendor showcases gives agencies early insight into technologies with proven operational value. It is equally important to form internal working groups to evaluate these insights, address potential concerns and align new tools with current operational realities.
Aligning AI for law enforcement with mission goals
AI is most powerful when it is tied to clear objectives. As such, agencies must define what they want AI to achieve, whether that is improving emergency response times, reducing manual data entry or enhancing crime analysis.
By connecting AI adoption to tangible outcomes, agencies create a roadmap that builds momentum and strengthens stakeholder support. Just as important is framing AI as a tool that augments, not replaces, the human element. This reinforces that AI supports personnel rather than threatens jobs, helps ease concerns and accelerates adoption.
Building trust and buy-in
Change management is also essential for successful AI for law enforcement adoption. Leadership should communicate openly about expectations, provide ongoing training and demonstrate commitment to giving employees the skills and resources to use AI effectively.
Agencies that present AI as a natural evolution of their work, rather than a disruptive overhaul, are better positioned to gain buy-in, sustain engagement and achieve long-term success.
Learning from others
External input is also invaluable. Agencies can study how peers are using AI to improve operations and adapt those lessons to their own environments. Issuing requests for information (RFIs) or participating in pilot programs with technology partners can provide real-world insights into both opportunities and challenges.
This collaborative approach ensures that adoption strategies are not created in isolation but are shaped by lessons learned across the wider public safety community.
Committing to continuous improvement
Deploying AI for law enforcement is only the beginning. Agencies should also provide training that builds confidence among users and creates feedback loops to measure effectiveness over time. Because AI evolves quickly, regular evaluations and updates are necessary to ensure the technology continues to deliver value.
Agencies that treat AI as a long-term investment, supported by ongoing training, feedback and refinement, will be best positioned to realize its full potential.
Moving forward with purpose
AI is poised to be one of the most transformative forces in public safety. By approaching adoption with intention, grounded in education, alignment to mission, strong change management, external collaboration and continuous evaluation, agencies can unlock its potential in ways that make communities safer and operations more efficient.
The path forward is clear, and now is the time for agencies to take the next step and put AI to work in public safety.
Ben Ernst
Ben Ernst is the vice president and general manager for North America Public Safety at Hexagon’s Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division. With more than 25 years of experience in technology solutions, he leads a team of professionals in the public safety industry, implementing mission-critical CAD and RMS systems for our nation’s first responders.
