The Phoenix Police Department is rolling out a new AI-powered call triage system for its non-emergency line. But another major city used the same system and discontinued its use.
The Department is now using CallTriage, a virtual assistant by Canadian firm Versaterm, to handle Crime Stop calls.
An earlier iteration of the tool was used by Portland’s Bureau of Emergency Communications, which saw a 35% drop in call volume before discontinuing it due to hardware issues.
Phoenix officials say they were aware of Portland’s experience and were told the delay was due to that department’s outdated phone lines — an issue Phoenix addressed with its new phone system — and that no problems occurred during testing.
In a statement to KJZZ, Versaterm said it has conducted extensive testing and product enhancements to ensure agencies can provide the best possible experience.
"We have conducted extensive testing, verification, and certification, along with product enhancements, to ensure agencies can provide the communities they serve with the best possible experience. This approach is designed to help ensure smooth performance from launch and timely, accurate routing of calls to the appropriate resource." the statement said.
-
Glendale fired a police officer after officials determined incidents involving him were a pattern that had become a safety risk. Now the officer is demanding his job back. -
A Mesa man has been sentenced to five years in prison and three years probation in connection with the arson of a Tesla dealership in that city last year. -
The Federal Trade Commission says Arizonans lost roughly $337 million to fraud in 2024. A new imposter scam targets the family members of those arrested and put in jail. -
The bill, introduced by a Republican Arizona senator, would put restrictions on what data could be accessed and who could access it. The proposal comes after the surveillance camera company Flock Safety has come under scrutiny in the state. -
Indigenous peoples across the U.S. have been swept up in the Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants and an Arizona tribe is taking steps to safeguard its membership.
