Abstract Objectives This study examines the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce the time police officers spend writing reports, a task that consumes a significant portion of their workday. Methods In a pre-registered randomized controlled trial, we test this claim within the patrol division of a medium-sized police department ( n = 85) at the individual report level ( n = 755). Analyses utilize mixed-effects regression accounting for the nested structure of report-writing. Results AI assistance did not significantly affect the duration of writing police reports. Alternative specifications beyond those specified in the pre-registration, including a difference-in-differences approach observing report duration over a full year ( n = 6084), confirm the null findings are robust. Conclusions Our findings contradict marketing expectations for the effect of this technology, suggesting no time savings in report-writing can be expected when using AI-assisted report-writing. Several other potential effects remain possible and untested.
A rigorous experiment with 85 police officers found that artificial intelligence tools did not reduce the time officers spent writing reports, despite industry claims that AI would speed up this time-consuming task. This matters because police departments are increasingly investing in AI technologies with the expectation they will free up officers for patrol duties, but this study suggests those promised efficiency gains may not materialize. The findings challenge assumptions about AI’s immediate practical benefits in policing and suggest departments should be cautious about expecting quick returns on AI investments.
(AI-generated summary, v1, January 2026)
Citations: 8 (as of January 2026)