Police implement AI program for non-emergency calls

by Laura Bednar

Jan. 27 board of trustees meeting

Bath police entered into an agreement with the Summit County Department of Public Safety for Public Service Answering Point participation in the Aurelian AI non-emergency dispatch program. 

The program uses artificial intelligence to respond to non-emergency calls such as weather alerts, power outages or lost pets. Police Chief/Township Administrator Vito Sinopoli said it is difficult to answer those calls in addition to emergency calls. AI will ask the caller questions to determine the issue at hand and will give answers. The answers will be entered into the computer aided design software program for dispatchers to see.

“Through voice inflection or the content of the call, [the system] will determine whether or not it’s an emergency,” said Sinopoli. Emergency calls will be sent to a live dispatcher.

The system can identify where the call is coming from. Summit County will cover the $460,000 cost for countywide implementation of the program for public service answering points. Each PSAP must pay a one-time $10,000 fee.

Police review

Sinopoli gave an overview of the police department’s statistics in 2024. There are 10 Flock license plate reader cameras in the township. Last year, over 804,000 plates were scanned and of those 1,756 came back with hits for warrants, protection orders and other crimes.

Police received 19,041 calls for service in 2024, a 6.5% increase from the previous year. Trustee Sean Gaffney asked if the count included assisting with traffic accidents on the highways. Sinopoli said according to state law, townships are now permitted to enforce traffic violations on state highways, and Bath police have assisted with accidents on I-77. There were 396 traffic accident calls overall, which include Bath aiding other departments.

Trustees approved the purchase of a 2025 Ford Interceptor for the police department’s detective bureau, replacing two 2018 Ford vehicles for a cost of $47,367. The two 2018 vehicles will be sold through the Akron Auto Auction.

Administrative update

Sinopoli also reviewed township administration in 2024. The township’s health insurance premium increased 3 % through health broker Oswald Company. Bath is still working on agreements with the IAFF, which represents firefighters and EMT personnel, and the Teamsters labor unions, but FOP agreements are complete.

Bath expanded its drone fleet to four, and one drone was used for search and rescue during a house fire in Firestone Trace, according to Sinopoli.Also in the works is the renovation of a barn and house at the North Fork Preserve. The township is working with Peninsula Architects on the design. “We hope to see final drawings on the barn in February,” said Sinopoli, noting that plans for the house are complete. The hope is to bid the projects together for construction.