SILS Recap: The Future of Policing - How DPD Is Using AI To Solve Crime

On Friday, September 27, SVP Dallas hosted its monthly Social Innovation Luncheon, gathering SVP Dallas Partners, community members, and leaders to discuss innovative approaches to social change.

The event featured Deputy Chief Stephen Williams of the Dallas Police Department, Jennifer Owen , SVP Dallas Partner and Owner & Attorney at Higier Allen & Lautin, P.C., and Justin Moore , a civil rights attorney and Chief Justice Officer at Fifty One AI.

Scaling Justice

Deputy Chief Stephen Williams shared the new strategy the Dallas Police Department is using to leverage AI to enhance operational efficiency. In a time when the department is “Doing more with less,” AI tools are offering the opportunity to create efficiencies “So employees can focus on providing services.”

Justin Moore articulated a similar idea when he posited that AI can be used to “scale justice.” Anyone in the nonprofit sector understands the challenges with scaling services, and any tool that can help expand the effect of good work is worth thoughtful consideration.

Williams emphasized that the facial recognition technology DPD is using is not a freelance service; they can apply it wherever needed. “We’re using this tool as an investigative tool. It requires a criminal offense to run it,” Williams explained, stressing that only a limited number of trained analysts—fifteen in total—have access to the tool. He highlighted the safeguards in place, noting that analysts must complete a 32-hour facial identification, a misidentification course mandated by the FBI, and annual implicit bias training.

Williams also underscored that the technology is used as a supplemental part of the investigation, not a sole decision-maker. "We’re not allowing it to be the sole decision maker. It’s just a piece of the investigation,” he said.

The Complex Tension

Doing more with less, scaling justice. It sounds like a no-brainer. But Jennifer Owen cautioned against overenthusiasm, highlighting the complex tension between leveraging AI technology for efficiency and ensuring the protection of civil rights. While AI has the potential to streamline processes and enhance decision-making, its broad application raises concerns, especially regarding bias.

Take traffic stops, for example. We all know that traffic stops disproportionately affect people of color. There is a risk that AI, if not carefully designed, could perpetuate or exacerbate such disparities. Owen emphasized the need for caution in implementation to prevent harm to protected classes, ensuring that advancements in technology do not come at the expense of equity.

A Reflection of Who We Are

The tension is real–between efficiency and responsibility, scale and protection. But this technology isn't just a tempting possibility; it's inevitable. Moore said, “We have to get over being afraid of the technology because it's going to be implemented.”

Moore reflected on the fact that technology has rules, and those rules come from us. So, just because we can utilize tech to do jobs humans once did, it by no means unburdens us humans from responsibility. "We tend to think we create these models, and they just take over. “But really, it’s just a reflection of who we are," Moore explained.

It’s on us to ensure: Are we using our AI predictive models to double down on our implicit biases, or mitigate them?

Moore emphasized that just as these tensions are real, so is the potential. The way policies are designed and implemented into AI systems can not only help solve pressing societal issues but also provide insights into how society is currently structured. “If we use these tools in an honest way with integrity, I think we can start pushing ourselves towards a society that reflects our values,” Moore added.

A Careful Balance

As AI continues to evolve, its role in policing and justice for organizations like DPD will require a careful balance between efficiency and safeguarding civil rights. The insights shared by Williams, Owen, and Moore at the Social Innovation Luncheon underscore the importance of thoughtful implementation, ensuring that AI enhances fairness rather than exacerbates existing biases.

Thank you, Deputy Chief Stephen Williams, Jennifer, and Justin, for joining us.