Boulder Police Will Launch AI Assistant for Non-Emergencies
The department will deploy an automated system in October 2026 to manage routine calls amid staffing shortages.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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The Boulder Police Department is preparing to launch an AI assistant named Ashley to handle non-emergency requests, which currently account for 70% of its incoming call volume. The system is scheduled for a soft launch in October 2026 to address staffing shortages.
Why it matters
By automating the intake of routine reports, the department aims to reduce dispatcher workloads and prioritize emergency response efforts. This transition reflects a broader shift toward integrating automated triage in municipal services to manage operational constraints.
The system identifies non-emergency incidents such as noise complaints and abandoned vehicles. It handles 70% of total call volume, though human staff remain responsible for reviewing every AI-generated report.
The players
Boulder Police Department
A municipal law enforcement agency that manages public safety services for Boulder, Colorado.
Axon
A technology company specializing in hardware and software solutions for law enforcement, including body cameras and digital evidence management platforms.
The details
The AI assistant, Ashley, functions by gathering initial report information from callers before transferring the metadata to human dispatchers. To ensure accuracy, human staff review all data collected by the system and resume the conversation from the point where the AI concluded its inquiry. If a caller reports a situation escalating toward danger, the system is designed to bypass automated processing and immediate route the call to a human dispatcher.
Timeline
October 2026: The department will conduct a soft launch of the AI program.
December 2026: The department expects a full rollout of the AI system.
The Tech Race
This initiative follows the documented trend of integrating natural language processing into public safety answering points to mitigate persistent staffing shortages. It aligns with the industry-wide push to modernize dispatch infrastructure by offloading routine triage tasks to automated systems.
Residents contacting the department for non-emergency matters will interact with Ashley, an AI assistant, starting in October 2026. Routine requests like noise complaints or animal control issues will be processed automatically before human staff review the final report for accuracy.
The takeaway
The implementation of AI-driven triage represents a strategic shift in handling municipal resource demands by automating repetitive administrative tasks. Residents should monitor for the system rollout in late 2026 to understand how non-emergency reporting workflows change.
What happens next
A soft launch is scheduled for October 2026, followed by a full system implementation expected by the end of December 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the current landscape of Artificial Intelligence in municipal service applications.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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