Dr. Alex Chohlas-Wood published an opinion piece titled “How To Deploy AI To Improve Policing in New York” in Vital City as part of the Provost’s Offices’ Faculty Writing program. He argues that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) should move beyond bans on AI and instead leverage the technology responsibly to accelerate police reform and operational efficiency. Rather than focusing on controversial surveillance, the author proposes using AI to analyze historical 911 data to better identify opportunities for mental health call diversion, provide automated oversight of body-worn camera footage to flag both exemplary and problematic behavior, and create risk-free training simulations for dispatchers. By shifting from a "locked-down" governance model to one that proactively integrates secure, governed AI tools, the NYPD can improve public safety outcomes while building the "policymaking muscle" necessary for modern, transparent justice reform.