In the heart of Silicon Valley, the Campbell Police Department stands out as a beacon of innovation in law enforcement. Despite being a smaller agency, Campbell PD has made a significant commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance their service to the community.
Watch the video to discover how Campbell PD uses a network of connected technologies to keep their community and their officers safe. They have a powerful story, and their love for their city is apparent.
About Campbell PD
Campbell Police Department serves the city of Campbell, California, located in Santa Clara County in the San Francisco Bay Area. The department operates out of the city hall building in the historic downtown section of Campbell.
As of 2024, the Campbell Police Department employs approximately 70 full-time staff members, including both sworn officers and non-sworn personnel. This relatively small force is responsible for protecting and serving a population of 43,959 residents, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. The department is organized into four main divisions: Administrative, Special Enforcement, Field Services, and Support Services.
Gary Berg serves as the Chief of Police for the Campbell Police Department. Chief Berg leads the department in its mission to protect and serve the community with integrity, upholding the core principles of policing: service, justice, and fundamental fairness. Under his leadership, the department focuses on community-oriented policing strategies and maintaining a strong relationship with Campbell's residents and businesses.
Campbell Police Department prides itself on its community engagement efforts and its ability to provide effective law enforcement services to a diverse suburban population in the heart of Silicon Valley.
The challenge
Campbell Police Department needs to maintain exceptional service in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. As a smaller agency in the tech-centric Silicon Valley, they recognized the need to stay ahead of the curve. Their goal was to harness the power of technology to improve officer efficiency, community safety, and overall policing effectiveness.
The solution
Campbell PD found their comprehensive answer in the Axon Ecosystem, a suite of integrated technologies designed specifically for law enforcement. Their journey with Axon began in the mid-2000s with the adoption of TASER devices, but it has since expanded to include a wide array of innovative solutions including body-worn cameras, Axon Evidence, Axon Records, and several other solutions.
Here are a few of the newest innovations that Campbell highlighted:
Draft One: AI-powered report writing
One of the most transformative additions to their toolkit has been Draft One, a report writing assistant which leverages AI informed by Axon’s responsible innovation framework. This sophisticated tool uses natural language processing to convert body-worn camera footage and officer notes into preliminary report drafts.
Police report writing is often a time-consuming task that can keep officers off the streets for hours. Draft One addresses this issue by automating much of the process, while requiring officers to review and sign off before submitting.
Officer Nate Velichko shared his experience:
Draft One has been really great for me... I had a missing persons report, it was the end of shift I' had just taken it, those reports have to be done quickly. Normally that report would take me 30-45 minutes to do; I was able to get it done in under 5 minutes and actually able to go home on time that day.
The implications of this efficiency are significant. Officers can spend more time in the community, respond to calls faster, and maintain a better work-life balance.
Detective Michael Kardan highlighted another crucial advantage:
In my position, some of my interviews can be very lengthy. It cuts down time, I find myself doing a 5 hour interview with a suspect and now I have to write this 5 hour interview into a large essay. It’s very helpful and beneficial to the case where Draft One writes the key points of the interview and I can go and review what Draft One has put into text and I can add more information...
Campbell PD expressed the importance of completing good reports for their community. Draft One takes that important task and makes it more efficient and has proven to improve the quality of reports.
Drone as First Responder (DFR)
Campbell PD has also embraced the Drone as First Responder program, a cutting-edge approach to emergency response.
DFR involves deploying drones to incident scenes before or alongside ground units. These drones provide real-time aerial footage and situational awareness to responding officers. Campbell’s DFR units can launch from a local rooftop and cover multiple miles within seconds or minutes, much faster than a patrol car.
Detective Rachel Peckham explained its significance:
DFR has made a number of differences... We get enhance situational awareness that gives us a better understanding of what we are responding to.
This technology allows the department to assess situations quickly, make informed decisions about resource allocation, and enhance officer safety by providing crucial information before they arrive on scene. For instance, if an alarm goes off in a building the drone can quickly assess the reason for the alarm and the type of response that might be required.
Axon Fusus
Axon Fusus represents a significant leap forward in how police departments manage and utilize video data.
Law enforcement agencies often struggle with integrating various video sources into a cohesive, usable system. Axon Fusus solves this problem by creating a unified platform for all video feeds.
Dispatch Supervisor Jennifer Kenton emphasized its importance:
"Fusus is giving us a way to pull in video feeds that we were never able to get before... It’s going to give us that ability to stream body-worn camera footage, in car camera footage, drone footage, traffic cameras... It gives dispatchers an opportunity to be part of the solution."
This solution enables real-time situational awareness, allowing for more informed decision-making during critical incidents and investigations. Campbell is excited to use this technology to keep people safe during their spring and fall festivals, which draw large crowds from around the area.
Axon VR
Campbell PD has also adopted Axon's Virtual Reality training system, revolutionizing how they prepare officers for real-world scenarios.
Traditional police training often struggles to replicate the stress and complexity of real-world situations. VR training offers a safe, immersive environment to practice decision-making under pressure.
Detective Michael Kardan praised the advancements:
"I would highly encourage going towards VR. All you need is four walls and a ceiling and you have a training center ready to go. Feedback from officers is that they are feeling a lot more comfortable."
This technology allows the department to simulate a vast array of situations, from de-escalation techniques to active shooter responses, in a controlled, repeatable environment.
The results
The implementation of the Axon ecosystem has yielded impressive results for Campbell Police Department:
Increased efficiency: Draft One has saved 60% of Campbell Police Officers report writing time, allowing officers to spend more time in the community. This translates to faster response times and more proactive policing.
Enhanced response capabilities: The DFR program has improved incident response times and provided crucial intelligence for ground units. This has led to better outcomes in emergency situations and improved officer safety.
Improved situational awareness: Axon Fusus has given the department a more comprehensive view of incidents, enhancing decision-making and resource allocation. This integrated approach has proven particularly valuable during complex operations.
Better prepared officers: Virtual Reality training has significantly improved officer preparedness for real-world scenarios. Officers report feeling more confident and capable in high-stress situations.
Community trust: By leveraging technology to enhance transparency and efficiency, Campbell PD has strengthened its relationship with the community. The use of advanced technology demonstrates the department's commitment to progressive, effective policing.
Chief Gary Berg summed up the department's experience:
When I look at Axon, I look at the future of law enforcement technology. I want a partner who I can trust who is at the forefront of building new products that ultimately keep our officers safer and our community safer. That’s why I choose Axon. Axon is a partner whose mission is an admirable one that aligns with exactly what we’re trying to do. It all comes together to create an environment that is giving our officers the tools necessary to do the dangerous job...
Campbell Police Department's comprehensive adoption of the Axon ecosystem demonstrates how even smaller agencies can leverage cutting-edge technology to provide exceptional service. Their commitment to innovation sets a new standard for law enforcement in the digital age, proving that embracing technology can lead to safer communities and more effective policing.
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