Harvard Alumni Creates AI Assistant for Police and Raises $6 Million
David Lawrence, who once studied law at Harvard, decided to drop out of college to tackle a problem that deeply troubled him: police misconduct. It all started when a shooting on campus involving a police officer sparked a major controversy. Lawrence realized that many of these mistakes occur because officers do not have immediate access to department rules. That’s when the idea for Blue Voice was born, an AI startup based in Boston that offers real-time guidance for officers in the field.
Three years later, Blue Voice emerges from stealth mode with $6 million in funding led by SignalFire and Las Olas VC. Today, officers from 225 agencies across 25 states use the tool daily to ensure their actions comply with department protocols. Lawrence compares the platform to Harvey, an AI tool widely used by lawyers, or OpenEvidence, which serves doctors.
The Solution to an Old Problem
Before Blue Voice, officers who couldn’t recall a specific protocol had few options: consult a 15,000-page manual, wake a supervisor in the middle of the night, or turn to generic tools like Google or ChatGPT, which are not trained for the police context. This was a problem, as traditional methods were time-consuming and general-use AIs made mistakes up to 30% of the time, according to Lawrence.
The difference with Blue Voice is that it is trained based on specific laws from each department, local ordinances, protocols, and guidelines that general-use AIs cannot access on the public internet. The platform also provides instant access to detailed maps of schools during active shooter emergencies. This gives officers the confidence that they are acting based on accurate and relevant information.
Real Impact on Daily Policing
Blue Voice answers one question per minute, and Lawrence claims that officers trust the tool because it always directs them to the original regulations, rather than just generating a response as ChatGPT would. The tool does not dictate actions but provides the laws, leaving the final decision to the officers, who combine this information with their field experience.
In the last 12 months, Blue Voice has expanded its customer base eleven times, as police departments see concrete results, such as reduced crime and fewer operational controversies. In a recent case, the tool helped prevent a kidnapping when a rookie officer, noticing a man pressuring a young woman to get into his car, consulted Blue Voice. The app confirmed that the situation met the legal criteria for "enticing minors," allowing him to act immediately.
AI and Public Safety: A Delicate Relationship
At a time when the use of AI by police, such as license plate surveillance systems from Flock Safety, faces increasing criticism, Lawrence hopes that Blue Voice will prove that well-implemented AI can bring benefits to public safety without sacrificing civil rights. Having previously worked for Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, he has developed a deep passion for public service and does not regret leaving law school. "This is the best use I could make of my career and the most significant impact I could have," he stated.
Blue Voice, which competes with private equity-backed Lexipol, has also recently developed features to help detectives solve cold cases. The startup is demonstrating that when used correctly, AI can be a powerful ally for police officers, helping them make more informed and safer decisions.
Comments (0)
Comments are moderated and if they violate our Terms and Conditions of use, the comment will be deleted. Persistence in violation will result in a ban of your account.