A recent survey from Ernst & Young found that artificial intelligence (AI) use among state and local government agencies has nearly tripled in five years, climbing from 13% to 45%. Public safety agencies are clearly leaning into AI for law enforcement to manage increasingly complex environments, strained resources and growing data streams.
However, as the use of AI becomes more common in 911 centers, real-time crime centers and emergency response systems, questions about what AI can and cannot do are now more important than ever.
Empower your public safety agency with AI
AI is not the future. It’s already here.
Agencies that begin integrating AI now, with intention and care, will be better prepared to serve, protect and respond with speed and clarity. It all starts with understanding what AI in public safety truly means.
- What is AI for law enforcement and public safety?
AI in public safety refers to machine learning, predictive analytics and automation technologies that help responders and decision-makers act faster and more effectively. These tools don’t replace human judgment – they enhance it by analyzing patterns, surfacing insights and automating time-consuming tasks.
- How is AI already being used?
Today, AI is already assisting with transcription, translation and triage of emergency calls. It supports dispatchers by offering response recommendations and analyzing sensor and video data in real time. It’s used in investigations, digital evidence management, predictive risk modeling and threat detection.
It’s also being used to divert and triage non-emergency calls, keeping call-takers and dispatchers focused on true emergencies. A great example of this is in Arlington County, Viriginia, where the Arlington County Police Department’s Emergency Command Center incorporates an AI workflow to redirect non-emergency calls, lowering call volumes, decreasing call lengths and freeing up dispatchers to deal with emergencies first.
AI tools give first responders more situational awareness without asking them to spend more time sorting through data.
- Will AI replace dispatchers or officers?
No. AI is not here to take the place of people. It’s here to support them. By automating routine workflows and surfacing key information, AI frees up dispatchers, officers and investigators to focus on critical decision-making. Final decisions will always remain in human hands.
- Can AI help with multiagency coordination?
Yes. AI-powered platforms can unify CAD, RMS, traffic, fire and emergency data into a single view. That means agencies can collaborate more easily across jurisdictions and gain a shared understanding of incidents as they unfold.
- Is AI biased?
It can be biased, but it doesn’t have to be. Agencies can reduce bias by training models with diverse datasets, requiring transparency in AI decision-making and keeping humans in the loop to audit and validate outputs. Responsible AI governance is key.
- How should agencies evaluate AI?
Look for tools that integrate with your existing systems, offer explainable results and enhance your team’s awareness and decision-making. Just as important, choose a partner that will walk with you through implementation and scale with your needs.
Why this change is inevitable
AI offers a clear path to faster responses, better coordination and safer communities. It also addresses growing operational demands, from workforce shortages to data overload. According to McKinsey, 65% of organizations are now using generative AI, which is nearly double from the year before.
How Hexagon is at the forefront of AI for law enforcement and public safety
Hexagon was the first provider to launch AI-powered dispatch with Smart Advisor in 2020.
Today, we continue to help agencies simplify complexity, amplify decisions and extend value across the public safety ecosystem. Our AI-enhanced technologies in the Hexagon public safety platform support integrated operations across jurisdictions, helping teams collaborate in real time and respond with confidence.
Together with our integration partners, we’re creating connected, data-driven ecosystems for emergency management that are smarter, safer and more effective.
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.
