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The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | May 2025
cates, and law enforcement representatives, could be instrumental in setting statewide standards, checking compliance, and providing guidance on ethical AI deployment.
Third, police departments must adopt robust ethical oversight frameworks to safeguard against misuse or overreliance on AI. This includes comprehensive training for officers not only on the operation of these tools but also on critically evaluating their output and identifying potential biases or inaccuracies. Officers must keep their role as the primary authors of police narratives and should be empowered and encouraged to correct, contextualize, or reject AI-generated content as necessary. Internal review processes should be developed to systematically assess whether AI-assisted reports align with underlying audio and visual evidence and to flag any discrepancies that could compromise the integrity of investigations or judicial outcomes.
Furthermore, concerted efforts must be made to diversify the datasets used to train these AI systems. Vendors and agencies should actively collaborate with academic institutions and civil rights organizations to develop inclusive, representative corpora that minimize the replication of historical injustices. This includes proactively avoiding training on data known to reflect disproportionately punitive or racially biased patterns and ensuring that linguistic and cultural nuances are accurately understood and fairly interpreted by natural language processing systems. Periodic audits of AI algorithms should be mandated, conducted by external reviewers, to identify and rectify algorithmic drift or emergent biases.
Lastly, transparency with the public must be a foundational principle. Law enforcement agencies should clearly disclose when and how AI is being used in report generation and provide meaningful opportunities for community input in technology procurement and policymaking processes. Building public trust requires not only the adoption of cutting-edge tools but also a demonstrable commitment to democratic oversight and accountability. Citizens must have confidence that the use of AI in policing serves the cause of justice— not merely expediency— and that proper safeguards are in place to protect their fundamental rights.
Conclusion While artificial intelligence is undoubtedly a powerful tool with the potential to transform policing by enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and data use, it must be approached with the utmost caution. The integration of AI in law enforcement raises significant ethical, legal, and operational concerns that cannot be ignored. The risks of bias, errors, and undue reliance on automated systems pose a direct threat to the foundational principles of justice, fairness, and accountability.
AI cannot— and should not— replace human judgment, especially in the high-stakes realm of law enforcement, where decisions can affect individuals ' lives and liberties. As Don Pavlak( 2023) aptly notes,“ AI cannot replace the skill of writing, but it can enhance it.” Similarly, AI can complement policing efforts, but it must never supplant the crucial role of human oversight and critical thinking. The absence of transparency, the potential for bias, and the lack of adequate safeguards in AI systems could lead to severe consequences, including violations of constitutional rights, miscarriages of justice, and erosion of public trust in law enforcement.
New Jersey law enforcement agencies must prioritize the development of comprehensive, transparent, and accountable policies that balance innovation with constitutional protections. Until these safeguards are firmly in place, the use of AI in policing should be approached with restraint. In the rush to embrace cutting-edge technology, we must ensure that our commitment to justice and civil rights remains unwavering. Ultimately, the adoption of AI should enhance, not undermine, the integrity of law enforcement, and its deployment must be guided by careful, deliberate thought to protect the rights of all citizens.
About the Author Don Pavlak is a retired police veteran with 34 years of service. He holds an Ed. S.( Education Specialist) in Leadership from Seton Hall University, where he developed a strong foundation in both practical law enforcement and leadership theory. In addition to his distinguished career in law enforcement, Pavlak is an adjunct professor at Passaic County Community College, where he teaches courses that bridge the gap between policing and academic theory. He is also a certified instructor through the New Jersey Police Training Commission, contributing his expertise to the professional development of law enforcement officers across the state.
Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed by contributors or advertisers to The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, its officers, or employees. The primary purpose of this publication is to educate and inform. This publication does not constitute legal or other professional services or advice.
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