(TNS) — The Laredo Police Department is expanding its use of artificial intelligence in several upcoming programs, a move that Chief Miguel Rodriguez teased during last week’s State of the City address.
In a video presentation played during his speech, Rodriguez detailed how AI and other technological tools will shape the department’s future, highlighting their role in keeping Laredo one of the safest cities in Texas and ranked 13th safest in the country.
“Technology is going to help us and help us keep our streets safe,” Rodriguez said. “The technology we have has been extremely helpful in fighting crime across the city.”
Some of the efforts already underway include integrating AI systems into existing platforms and new technologies expected to launch in 2026. Rodriguez said the department’s strategy is not just about innovation, but also about using smart tools to address staffing shortages and improve response times.
One of the earliest advances began in 2025 with Raven, an SBA-certified HUBZone Small Business specializing in cybersecurity, AI/ML, and IT for the U.S. defense and intelligence community.
The department uses special cameras that can track the longitude and latitude of gunshots to pinpoint their source, as well as sensors placed at major intersections to detect collisions in real time. All of these are aimed at reducing emergency response times.
The beta version of CaseX, an AI-powered online reporting system, is scheduled to be released in March. The platform is designed to help residents file police reports, guide them through the process and, if necessary, connect them directly to police officers or 911 in an emergency situation.
“Above all, for us, it provides a system that not only increases our efficiency, but also a system that helps the public,” Rodriguez said. “You don’t have to wait for a police officer to call you. The system will do it for you. If it’s an emergency, the system will connect you to 911.”
Another new system, “Peregrine,” scheduled for mid-March, will collect data across the Laredo Police Department’s digital infrastructure, giving officers efficient access to case files, documents, and records across all departments.
Launching in April is Prepare911, an automated system that guides callers dialing the department’s non-emergency line. This will help determine if the issue can be handled online or escalated to emergency dispatch. When dialing 911, officers receive live coordinates and can listen to the call in real time, allowing them to dispatch themselves if immediate action is needed.
“Officers in that area will be receiving 911 calls in real time,” Rodriguez said. “So they can hear what the person is saying and respond without having to wait. If it’s something that can be addressed right away, they can respond right away.”
Still, Rodriguez emphasized that the department is approaching new technology cautiously. The system is a tool and is not a substitute for human judgment.
“We’re very careful about how we navigate these platforms because we don’t want to make mistakes,” he said. “At the end of the day, systems will make us more efficient. Technology will make us better. But we have to be very responsible.”
That vigilance extends to AI, which continues to grow in every industry. Rodriguez said that despite the department’s progress, all actions involving artificial intelligence will be subject to human review.
“For us, we’re dealing with people, we’re dealing with public services,” he said. “The system doesn’t always respond correctly. We make sure that when we respond, we respond with the correct information.”
Systems already in use include Skydio drones for aerial surveillance and collision monitors and shot spotters through tech company Flock, which the department began using in early 2025.
Many of these efforts are funded by government-issued grants and serve to offset LPD’s struggles with staffing and recruitment, particularly in police field coverage and demographics.
“These programs are critical to current business operations because they help us become more efficient in less time,” Rodriguez said. “We continue to get through it. We’re going to get better at it.”
© 2026, Laredo Morning Times (Laredo, Texas). Distributor Tribune Content Agency LLC.
