AI Tool Aims to Speed Up Crime Solving in San Diego
A man who lost his home to a robbery discovered that the police only saw a 13% chance of getting his belongings back. Frustrated by the slow system, he created Longeye, a software that speeds up detective work. Launched in San Francisco last year, it is now engaging police departments nationwide, including those in San Diego.
The Problem
Police forces are drowning in cases while investigators are scarce. In San Diego, the backlog is stark:
- 83% of sexual assaults remain unsolved
- 33% of kidnappings are unresolved
- 15% of murders lack resolution
Detectives cannot manually sift through the flood of digital evidence—phone records, emails, GPS traces, and more. Longeye parses massive data sets and transforms them into searchable case files, letting officers pinpoint critical clues in minutes instead of weeks.
Proven Impact
- County A: Longeye analyzed 537 jail phone calls and isolated a homicide confession.
- County B: It linked three phones appearing at separate robbery sites, building a solid case.
The tool does not predict crimes; it surfaces evidence and generates concise summaries for investigators.
Competitive Landscape
While giants like Palantir offer data‑analysis tools, Longeye focuses on accelerating evidence discovery rather than predicting targets. A former police chief praised it for keeping detectives’ judgment front‑and‑center while speeding up their workflow.
Cautionary Notes
Experts warn that large data sets can be risky. A law professor highlighted the potential for false incriminating evidence if AI misinterprets data—illustrated by a phone call about a biblical passage mistakenly flagged as a confession. Longeye incorporates verification checks so investigators can confirm findings before action.
Current Adoption
- El Cajon Police Department: Tested Longeye on one case; still evaluating full adoption.
- San Diego County Sheriff’s Office: Pilot program underway; budget constraints delay full rollout.
Small agencies can subscribe for as little as $5,000 per year.
Founder’s Mission
The founder tours the country to demonstrate Longeye to district attorneys and detectives. The company has raised $5 million from a venture fund backed by prominent tech investors and plans additional fundraising.
