An artificial intelligence system called “Lezle” has been handling non-emergency calls in Craighead County, reducing dispatcher workloads by 56% in the last month. Although the system has shown promise, it is still undergoing adjustments to address occasional programming issues.

Implemented on September 29, Lezle has handled nearly 5,000 calls as of October 28. According to dispatchers, the system resolves more than half of these calls independently. It is most effective with clerical inquiries, such as questions about records or warrants, and routes more complex queries directly to appropriate personnel.

E-911 dispatcher Terra Summers said the difference on the dispatch floor is noticeable. “70 hours might not sound like a lot, but when you think about the majority of calls taking five minutes or less, that’s a lot of calls, so she’s definitely made a positive impact,” Summers explained.

Despite its efficiency, Lezle has displayed initial glitches. Summers recalled an early issue where the system told callers involved in car accidents to file reports online rather than dispatching an officer as required. Such errors are reported to administration, which either resolves them internally or passes them on to the system’s programmer.

Lezle is programmed with safeguards to ensure human assistance is readily available. Summers noted that words such as “emergency,” “breathing,” or “fire” trigger the system to transfer calls immediately to live dispatchers.

While Lezle is still evolving, Summers believes in its potential to become more accurate over time. “It’s constantly evolving, and she’s definitely made a positive impact,” she said.

Jonesboro resident Nicholas Sides, who has not personally used the system, expressed cautious optimism. “I do think that it can be a tool to help people,” Sides said. “And I have seen that there are cases where it can be helpful. I just think we need to use it in the right ways.”

Sides added that as long as Lezle focuses on non-emergency calls, learns from its mistakes, and supports human dispatchers, he sees it as a tool he can accept.

Lezle’s integration in Craighead County reflects ongoing efforts to leverage technology for public service while balancing system improvements with human oversight.