San Diego Police Union Opposed AI Reporting Software
The city police department is investigating automated writing tools to improve efficiency, but faces pushback on funding.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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The San Diego Police Department has issued a request for information from vendors to integrate AI software for report writing. The goal of this research-stage initiative is to improve service call response times.
Why it matters
The proposal has triggered a debate over municipal technology spending and resource allocation. Union leadership argues that existing staffing and infrastructure gaps should take priority over new automation.
The department issued a request for information in July 2026 to evaluate available report-writing capabilities. The scope of this search involves automating clerical documentation tasks to shift officer time toward active service calls.
The players
San Diego Police Department
The local municipal law enforcement agency tasked with public safety and incident documentation in San Diego.
Jared Wilson
The president of the San Diego police union who is advocating for existing personnel and funding needs.
The details
The San Diego Police Department is currently evaluating how automated software could handle the drafting of police reports. This technology typically uses large language models — AI systems trained on massive datasets to generate human-like text — to summarize incident details into standardized formats. The union's opposition highlights concerns that relying on such systems could lead to errors or an over-dependence on automated workflows.
Timeline
July 2026: The department issued a request for information to technology vendors.
October 2026: The police union president voiced opposition to the proposed investment.
The Tech Race
This development follows a pattern seen in other major U.S. cities where labor groups challenge the integration of AI tools as a diversion of limited municipal resources. San Diego is now testing the feasibility of automation against the practical reality of police department staffing.
Residents may eventually see faster police response times if automated software successfully reduces time spent on administrative paperwork. However, the timeline remains uncertain as the department evaluates vendor responses and manages labor opposition.
The takeaway
The department is weighing the efficiency gains of automation against the union's focus on foundational funding needs. Stakeholders should monitor the next round of municipal budget hearings for indicators of whether this procurement research progresses to a formal contract.
Further reading
Explore the broader implications of Artificial Intelligence adoption in modern municipal operations.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Voice of San Diego.
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