Colorado Sheriff's Office Turns to AI Tool for Criminal Investigations

Douglas County utilizes TimePilot to quickly analyze large volumes of evidence in complex cases.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:08pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a police evidence marker, such as a numbered placard or tag, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.The Douglas County Sheriff's Office's use of AI technology aims to streamline the analysis of complex criminal evidence, including in long-unsolved cold cases.Castle Rock Today

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office in Colorado has been using an AI platform called TimePilot to assist with time-consuming evidence review, particularly in major cases such as homicides. The tool helps investigators process large amounts of digital and physical evidence more efficiently by organizing information, generating timelines and summaries, and providing searchable insights.

Why it matters

The use of AI technology in criminal investigations can help law enforcement agencies like the Douglas County Sheriff's Office tackle complex cases more effectively, especially when dealing with large volumes of evidence. This can be particularly useful for cold cases where older records and information need to be thoroughly analyzed.

The details

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has been using the TimePilot AI platform for about a year under a grant, and recently received approval from county commissioners to continue the program. The system allows investigators to upload case materials, including crime scene photos, body cam videos, and other evidence, which the platform then organizes and analyzes. This generates timelines, summaries, and searchable insights that help investigators quickly locate specific details. The technology has proven especially useful in cold cases, where large volumes of older records can slow progress.

  • The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has been using TimePilot for about a year.
  • The agency recently received approval from county commissioners to continue the program.

The players

Douglas County Sheriff's Office

A law enforcement agency in Colorado that is using the TimePilot AI platform to assist with criminal investigations.

TimePilot

An AI platform designed to help law enforcement agencies analyze large volumes of evidence and information more efficiently.

Michele Kennedy

The crime analysis supervisor at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office who oversees the use of the TimePilot system.

Rhonda Fisher

A murder victim whose case remained unsolved for 38 years before being resolved with the help of the TimePilot system.

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What they’re saying

“It allows us to analyze large and complex cases more efficiently.”

— Michele Kennedy, Crime Analysis Supervisor, Douglas County Sheriff's Office

“With cold cases, there's just a large volume of paper reports. Handwritten reports are sometimes hard to decipher.”

— Michele Kennedy, Crime Analysis Supervisor, Douglas County Sheriff's Office

“It does not actually solve crimes. It's another tool.”

— Michele Kennedy, Crime Analysis Supervisor, Douglas County Sheriff's Office

What’s next

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office plans to continue using the TimePilot AI platform to assist with criminal investigations, particularly in complex cases and cold cases where large volumes of evidence need to be analyzed efficiently.

The takeaway

The use of AI technology in criminal investigations can help law enforcement agencies like the Douglas County Sheriff's Office tackle complex cases more effectively by quickly processing and analyzing large amounts of digital and physical evidence. While the technology does not solve crimes on its own, it can be a valuable tool for investigators to streamline their work and uncover important insights.