How AI is helping police tackle digital evidence overload

As agencies face an unprecedented surge in digital evidence — from body-worn cameras and surveillance systems to cell phones and social media — the question is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to use it responsibly. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley explores how AI can help investigators manage evidence at scale, streamline time-consuming processes and improve case outcomes while keeping decision-making firmly in human hands.

Dudley is joined by Kelly Inabnett, a former sex crimes and human trafficking detective with the Antioch Police Department, and Jon Gacek, senior vice president and general manager of Veritone’s public sector business unit. Drawing on investigative and technology perspectives, they break down how evidence volume has evolved over the past two decades, where investigators are losing time, and how AI can assist with tasks like video analysis, data organization, redaction and case linkage — without compromising accuracy, oversight or trust.

About our guests

Jon Gacek is currently SVP and General Manager of Veritone’s Public Sector business unit since 2018.Prior to joining to Veritone, Gacek served numerous executive roles including President and CEO of Quantum, EVP, CFO, and COO of Advanced Digital Information Corp. (ADIC) and was also an audit partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and led the Technology Practice in the firm’s Seattle Office. While at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, he assisted several private equity investment firms with a number of mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and other transactions.

Kelly Inabnett is a former sex crimes and human trafficking detective with the Antioch (California) Police Department. During Kelly’s nine-year tenure with Antioch PD, he was tasked with providing department training on proper response to sexual assault, crimes against children and to recognize the signs of human trafficking. Kelly specialized in forensic interviews, cell phone downloads, social media information, pre-text phone calls and cold cases. While working cases involving children sexual abused material (CSAM), human trafficking, and assisting in other major crimes, he has spent more than a thousand hours combing through digital evidence which could have been cut down to a fraction of the time with an effective digital evidence management system leveraging artificial intelligence. Prior to joining Antioch PD, Kelly also worked with Contra Costa County Sheriffs as a deputy in the county jail. Kelly brings his experience to Veritone to help detectives leverage AI to solve cases efficiently and effectively to spend their time where it is most needed.

About our sponsor

Veritone designs human-centered AI solutions. Since 2014, the people at Veritone have focused on building enterprise AI solutions and applications that solve problems for its customers in the public sector. Veritone's blend of expertise and technology helps organizations spend less time on repetitive tasks so they can focus on what matters –– protecting and serving their communities. Veritone Public Sector enables teams in law enforcement, government and public safety to streamline manual identification and redaction efforts and accelerate audio and video processing with intelligent automation. Veritone is proud to enable public servants at all levels to turn data into action that helps keep people safe and improves life for everyone in the community. For more information, visit veritone.com/public-sector.