US police begin using AI instead of traditional composite sketches

In the American city of Goodyear, Arizona, police published a “composite sketch” of a shooting suspect — a realistic image of a middle-aged man in a hoodie and beanie. The caption clarified that the picture had been generated by AI based on witness testimonies and did not depict a real person. Officer Mike Bonasera, who had drawn composite sketches by hand for five years, now uploads his sketches into ChatGPT and receives almost photographic portraits.

Why They Switched to AI

Bonasera explained that traditional pencil sketches no longer attract much attention. He noted that people nowadays tend to scroll past hand-drawn images. In contrast, realistic AI-generated pictures receive far more engagement, especially from younger audiences.

The process itself remains the same: the officer conducts a detailed witness interview and produces a hand sketch, which is then uploaded into the AI system. The witness sits next to him and adjusts the result in real time — changing facial expression, hairstyle, or clothing. In one case, a witness insisted that the suspect should have a “shocked” look, and the AI image was adjusted accordingly.

After the first AI composite was published in April 2025 during a kidnapping attempt investigation, the department received a flood of calls. This convinced the leadership to continue the experiment.

Risks and Criticism

Experts warn that AI composites may worsen the already unreliable process of eyewitness memory-based identification. Brian Schwartz from the University of Arizona pointed out that generative models are trained on billions of images, many of which overrepresent certain racial groups, and this may distort outcomes. Andrew Ferguson from George Washington University added that a human sketch artist can explain every stroke in court, while the workings of AI remain opaque.

For now, AI-generated images are used only to collect leads and not as grounds for arrest. However, other departments are already expressing interest in Goodyear’s experience, and Bonasera intends to transition fully to AI.

In Brief

Police in Goodyear, Arizona have become one of the first in the US to replace hand-drawn composite sketches with AI-generated images that look nearly photographic. The officer still makes an initial sketch, uploads it to AI, and refines it together with the witness. The method generates far more leads but raises concerns: AI models may amplify existing biases and complicate legal defense. For now, the technology is used solely as an investigative tool.