It's no secret that technology plays a significant role in public safety. Last year (2024) saw a continuing trend of innovation around tools that streamline workflows and strengthen operations. This won't change in 2025. We'll discuss what this growth will look like in the new year, and what technology will be at the forefront of helping agencies foster safer communities with more just outcomes.
AI Remains in the Spotlight
Public safety has not been immune to the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the private sector and by the public. Like 2024, the new year will see AI as an area of significant change and interest within the industry.
In 2025, there will continue to be a clear distinction between consumer-grade AI and AI technology that upholds the data security required for public safety. Commonly known, one-dimensional chatbots create unnecessary security risks and can only generate simple programmed responses. On the other hand, advanced conversational AI can go beyond this basic level and process more natural, contextually relevant conversations. This sophisticated engagement has already been leveraged in public safety, helping with 9-1-1 call prioritization, resource dispatching and report writing.
9-1-1 Call Prioritization: Conversational AI can effectively triage non-emergency calls and provide automated resolution to a portion of requests without the need for staff to engage with the caller on non-emergency phone line(s)
Resource Dispatching: Conversational AI can detect true emergencies, ensuring that callers are quickly transferred for priority handling and reducing decision-making delays
Report Writing: Conversational AI can guide community members with non-emergency requests through an investigative interview that delivers immediate service and captures relevant data to generate a compliant, review-ready report
It's evident that AI has a place in public safety. However, its use must be balanced. Its role is to support and enhance the capabilities of professionals, not replace them. AI cannot and should not be leveraged to replace human intuition, empathy or judgment. Rather, AI can streamline and automate certain processes, allowing agencies to free up valuable resources and staff time.
Managing Digital Evidence Effectively
From geolocation data to social media posts, the volume and variety of digital evidence will continue growing throughout 2025. Things like body and in-vehicle camera footage, phone records, messaging logs and web browser history expand the information public safety agencies can use to solve cases faster and ensure just outcomes.
However, this increase isn't without challenges. Storage needs, public expectations and chain of custody requirements can all create roadblocks for agencies who are still using traditional methods of digital storage, like desktop computers, email and thumb drives. Manually managing this information can lead to delays and the potential for errors, misplacement or lost evidence. Digital Evidence Management Systems (DEMS) have helped bridge this gap by improving operational efficiency, ensuring data security and ultimately contributing to more effective and transparent investigations.
DEMS will continue creating opportunities for agencies to enhance how they manage digital evidence and track chain of custody in the new year. These solutions are helping save valuable time by streamlining evidence preparation for use in legal proceedings or sharing with the public after an incident. Features like location-based analytics also help provide an accurate account of events for investigators or detectives when reviewing or presenting case evidence.
An Extended Use for Body-Worn Cameras
Body-worn cameras (BWCs) have been commonplace in public safety for many years. These devices are a primary resource for evidence collection and personnel safety. However, 2025 will see the role of BWCs expand to support and empower agency-community relationships.
Part of emergency response involves interacting with members of the public. BWCs supply an accurate record of these interactions, helping to ensure that all parties are held accountable for their actions. There is a growing perspective that this objectiveness is not only useful for achieving justice but also for improving public trust by reducing perceptions of unhandled bias or misconduct. This level of transparency and accountability helps establish a commitment to community-oriented service that meets modern demands.
Footage from BWCs can serve as a catalyst for data-driven decision-making focused on improving relationships between public safety professionals and the communities they serve. Especially for agencies that have transitioned from single-use hardware to smart devices as a platform for BWCs, these tools can streamline how interactions with members of the public are evaluated. This helps agencies more easily determine what they're doing well and areas for improvement. However, building these relationships is not a static goal—it is an ongoing commitment that requires constant effort and adaptation.
Leveraging Drones in the Field
Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), have already proven their value in public safety, from enhancing situational awareness during emergencies to assisting in search-and-rescue operations. 2025 will see their role continue to expand throughout the industry. Part of this growth is centered around shifting toward a program-based approach with drones rather than treating them as one-off devices.
One-Off Drone Usage: Refers to deploying drones on an as-needed basis, often for specific incidents without sustained integration into daily operations.
Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs: Involves drones being strategically deployed as part of standard operating procedures, with dedicated resources, training and protocols
With formalized operations, agencies can ensure drones are always available with pre-defined workflows and operated by trained personnel, minimizing delays during emergencies. These Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs can also contribute to comprehensive data collection, allowing agencies to leverage real-time information in high-pressure situations. Maintaining a fleet of drones that are prepared for public safety operations, such as with increased durability, high-resolution cameras, and interoperable capabilities, can make all the difference when every second counts.
Ringing in the New Year
In 2025, technology will continue to play an influential role in public safety. As innovations are introduced and new solutions are developed, it's important to consider the possibilities these tools have when leveraged effectively and by the right people. The key is to ensure that the technology is used to achieve new efficiencies and deliver exceptional experiences for community members.
Stay tuned for part two of this blog series, where we discuss what approaches will help redefine public safety in the new year. In the meantime, learn more about Versaterm’s solutions for community engagement and field response, or schedule a meeting with our experts today.