How Tampa PD is setting the standard for AI in policing

"If criminals are using AI, the police better be using AI," says Chief Bercaw. "If we can find a way to be more efficient, more effective, less time on calls, and more proactive... then why not do it? Now is the time." But innovation at Tampa PD isn’t about racing to adopt the newest tools—it’s about deploying technology with integrity, transparency, and trust. That meant starting responsibly. The department rolled out Axon’s AI powered tools—including Assistant with Real Time Translation and Policy Chat—to field training officers first, gathering feedback and making improvements before expanding it department-wide.

The results were immediate. Axon Assistant’s Real-Time translation feature on the Axon Body 4, has transformed interactions on the street. Officer Jaclyn Douillard remembers using it during a robbery call involving Russian-speaking tourists. "The [Real-Time Translation] was able to give me specific details even down to the color, the zipper, and the make and model," she recalls. "They were able to have a conversation with us through the translator." Moments that used to require more than 20 minutes of delay—waiting for a certified translator or relying on a language line—now unfold in seconds. The impact goes beyond logistics. "There's definitely a physical reaction," Douillard adds recalling the victim's reaction to the technology. "Eyes wide... body language changes. Now you're engaging in a regular conversation."

For Officer Tejan Washington, who helps train new recruits, that shift is about more than convenience. "The ability to communicate with people from all different walks of life and not have issues just because of a language barrier—that's a game changer." He describes a driving while intoxicated stop at 2:00 a.m. where a driver only speaks French. Before, finding a translator at that hour might have been impossible. Now, officers can gather critical information on scene. "It changes everything."

Just as significant is the impact of Policy Chat—an AI-powered tool that allows officers to access department policy in real time via an app or desktop, and soon, from the Axon Body 4. Captain Kevin Schoolmeesters remembers the old days: writing notes in notebooks, flipping through binders, waiting on guidance. "Now everything's at your fingertips," he says. Officers can ask questions about use of force, fraud, domestic procedures—and hear the policy response immediately, complete with citations. The tool has reduced calls to supervisors and helped both rookies and veterans feel more confident in the moment.

"We never want it to replace decision making," says Major Kimberly Fruit, who helped oversee the pilot rollout. "We just want it to be a tool to be able to reach that decision faster." That philosophy is reflected in how Tampa PD brings technology into its culture. New tools were tested with bilingual staff. Training incorporates real-world scenarios. And leadership—like Chief Bercaw himself—uses the tools before asking others to. “I was one of the first to use Policy Chat,” he says. “I want to experience it first. Then it’s much easier to get buy-in.”

That buy-in isn’t limited to the department. At a recent community luncheon, Bercaw mentioned Tampa’s use of AI. "So many people came up to me afterward and said how proud they were of us. That we were leading with technology, with transparency." That sentiment echoes across neighborhood meetings and city events, where the tools are explained clearly and their purpose made plain: to serve more people, more fairly, and more efficiently.

Tampa PD knows that innovation only matters if it works for everyone. That’s why real-time translation includes over 50 languages, including those not initially anticipated—like Haitian Creole, now frequently used on scene. It’s why Policy Chat supports not only patrol operations but promotional study prep, officer training, and internal accountability. And it’s why feedback is actively sought, from officers and residents alike.

For a department this size, the technology is a leap forward. But for the people they serve, the change is simple and personal. Calls are handled quicker. Residents feel heard. Officers feel supported. "This is lowering crime by handling calls quicker, getting suspect information out there," says Bercaw. "That ability right there is going to make the community even safer."

The future may bring more tools—integrated displays, smarter systems, new AI applications—but Tampa’s approach won’t change. They’ll pilot. They’ll test. They’ll listen. Because progress in public safety isn’t about the tools themselves—it’s about what those tools allow officers to do: show up with clarity, compassion, and confidence, every single time.