Tech Explained: Here’s a simplified explanation of the latest technology update around Tech Explained: Police Department in Laredo, Texas, Expands Use of AI in Simple Termsand what it means for users..
(TNS) — The Laredo Police Department is expanding its use of artificial intelligence across several incoming programs — a move teased by Chief Miguel Rodriguez during last week’s State of the City address.
In a video presentation played during the address, Rodriguez detailed how AI and other tech tools are shaping the department’s future, emphasizing their role in keeping Laredo among the safest cities in Texas — and ranked 13th safest in the country.
“Technology is going to help us, get us there when it comes to keep the city safe,” Rodriguez said. “The technology that we have has been very helpful for us in combating the crimes that we have throughout the city.”
Among the initiatives already underway is the integration of AI systems into existing platforms, alongside new technologies set to launch in 2026. Rodriguez said the department’s strategy isn’t just about innovation — it’s about using smart tools to address staff shortages and improve response times.
One of the earliest advancements began in 2025 with Raven, an SBA-certified HUBZone Small Business specializing in cybersecurity, AI/ML, and IT for U.S. defense and intelligence communities.
The department is using specialized cameras that can track the longitude and latitude of gunfire to pinpoint origin, and sensors placed across major intersections to detect crashes in real time — all with the aim of reducing emergency response time.
A beta version of CaseX, an online, AI-powered reporting system, is expected to launch in March. The platform is designed to help residents file police reports, guide them through the process and — when necessary — connect them directly with officers or 911 in emergency situations.
“More than anything, for us it’s providing a system that will make us more efficient but also provide a system that’s going to help the public,” Rodriguez said. “You don’t have to wait for an officer to report something; the system will do it for you. If it’s an emergency, the system will connect you to 911.”
Another upcoming system, Peregrine, expected mid-March, will collect data across the Laredo Police Department’s digital infrastructure, giving officers streamlined access to case files, documents and records across all divisions.
Launching in April is Prepare911, an automated system that guides callers who dial the department’s non-emergency line. It helps determine whether the issue can be handled online or escalated to emergency dispatch. If 911 is dialed, officers receive live coordinates and can hear the call in real time — allowing them to self-deploy when immediate action is needed.
“The officers that are around that area are going to get that 911 call live,” Rodriguez said. “So they’ll be able to hear what the person is saying and they’ll be able to deploy themselves without waiting. If it’s something they can respond to right away, they’ll respond right away.”
Still, Rodriguez emphasized that the department is approaching new tech with care. Systems are tools — not replacements for human judgment.
“We are very careful of how we navigate these platforms because we don’t want to make mistakes,” he said. “At the end of the day, systems are going to make us more efficient. Technology is going to make us better. But we have to be very responsible.”
That caution extends to AI, which continues to grow across industries. Despite the department’s advancements, Rodriguez said every action involving artificial intelligence goes through human review.
“For us, we’re dealing with humans, we’re dealing with public service,” he said. “Sometimes the system isn’t always getting it right. We’re making sure that when we’re responding, we’re responding with the right information.”
Systems already in use include Skydio drones for aerial surveillance along with crash spotters and shot spotters through the tech company Flock, which the department began utilizing in early 2025.
Many of these initiatives are funded by government-issued grants and serve to offset challenges in staffing and recruitment — particularly LPD’s struggles with field coverage and demographics in policing.
“Those programs are crucial for operations now because it helps us be more efficient in less time,” Rodriguez said. “We continue navigating through it. We’re just going to get better at it.”
© 2026 the Laredo Morning Times (Laredo, Texas). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.