Seattle PD Caught Using AI to “Spy” on Officers

The command staff of Seattle Police Department (SPD), was caught using artificial intelligence (AI). This software was used to spy on its officers without their knowledge.

Truleo software has been used by the department since 2021. According to the Chicago-based startup company, GeekWire This software was initially developed to analyze texts and phone calls between Wall Street banks.

The department was using the software to analyze body cam footage of officers to determine if there were any problems with policing.

Instead of responding to complaints using the footage or software, the department took it upon themselves to actively review the bodycam footage without informing the officers and the public. Seattle Mike Solan is President of the Police Officer Guild.

After the officers’ association discovered the software, the department ended the practice.

The Ari Hoffman Show was informed by Mike Solan, President of the Seattle Police Officers Guild. “When you’re in uniform, you have to inform the community member that, ‘Hey, you’re being audio and video recorded,’ and that’s to follow policy.” 

He also stated that third party software is a good option. “..would flag, in their view, things that would eventually rate the officer’s professionalism, such as their inflection of their voice, whether or not that they were sarcastic, what type of words they used,” They may also have concerns that their employment agreement might be violated by the use of the technology.

He described subterfugees as “..the biggest egregious thing that I’ve seen in terms of violating trust from an employer to an employee.”

Solan admitted that the bias in AI is due to who programmed it. “It’s to the point where I’ve never seen the level of frustration from the current people that still work for this agency in my 23 years of just being an employee here.” 

Since 2020, when Seattle City Council advocated for it, the department has seen the departure of more than 540 officers. Defund the police Despite the fact that there is a huge shortage of staff, the council continues its demonization of its officers.

Solan stated that he confronted Adrian Diaz, chief of SPD, after he found out the AI was being used. “the department immediately terminated the contract with the third party.”

“We have no problem with sitting down at the table and bargaining accountability,” Solan continued. “We do that all the time… we’re the most accountable agency in the United States of America. We have no problem with new software, new training. All we’re asking is just let us know about it and we can work through the details.”

Solan also acknowledged that the department could work with the union, showing them the backend. But instead of that, when they got caught they terminated the contract. That implied guilt.
“They’ll eventually spin it as if “The union is back, trying to obstruct accountability.” and that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Hoffman inquired if the driver was being analyzed by the software. “I’ve been pulled over before. I am sometimes in a very, very bad mood… So for example, let’s say there’s a belligerent driver or belligerent suspect, and then you guys have to use force, ss that a strike against you when you’re yelling at the guy to get on the ground?”

Solan replied, “I think besides the department spying on their officers, to your point, what does this do about analyzing the community members’ words? Where is their First Amendment protections? How do you delineate between the officer and the person that in the public that you’re interacting with? And this is a major problem.”

“We can have a conversation all day long about officer accountability and how this particular situation impacts an officer, but more importantly, on a basic civil rights issue. How does it impact the broad conversation about public interaction with government officials?”

Solan claimed that the union was told by Solan that the “data has been erased.”

“The problem is they’ve been collecting data for six months without us knowing.”

“That to me tells me that we’re the test case and they’re using our officers as their testing point to then launch this thing nationwide,” He said so. Truleo confirmed that Seattle is a “”Customer anchor” for the software

“If you look at the board of directors on that third party company, they’re all ex-police chiefs. So looking at it more broadly, it just seems to be like a payday for ex-police chiefs who are looking to ride the accountability train all the way to their bank account.”