In the usually quiet city of Goodyear, Arizona, a familiar tool in police investigations is getting a futuristic upgrade. On December 9, 2025, the Goodyear Police Department confirmed it had begun testing artificial intelligence (AI) to generate suspect sketches, a move that’s already drawing attention from both law enforcement professionals and the public at large. The department’s cautious foray into AI-enhanced sketching has so far been limited, but its impact is already being felt in the community—and raising important questions about the future of police work.
According to reporting from the Phoenix New Times, the Goodyear Police Department has used AI tools twice so far: first in April 2025, in the case of a suspect accused of grabbing a young student who managed to escape, and most recently, after a late November shooting in a Phoenix suburb. In the latter case, police released an AI-generated image of their suspect—a middle-aged man, described as wearing a hoodie and beanie, sporting a goatee—based on statements from victims and witnesses. The department issued a clear warning with the image: “This AI-generated image is based on victim/witness statements and does not depict a real person.”
For decades, hand-drawn sketches have been a staple of police investigations, providing a visual representation of suspects based on witness recollections. The process is painstaking, often requiring a skilled artist to sit with witnesses, ask probing questions, and translate sometimes hazy memories into a composite drawing. But with the rise of generative AI, even this traditional corner of law enforcement is seeing change.
Sgt. Mayra Reeson, speaking to the Phoenix New Times, emphasized that the traditional process is far from obsolete. “The artist still conducts the full interview and hand-draws the sketch based on the witness description,” she explained. “The only difference is that they now use AI, including tools like ChatGPT, to enhance the final image so it appears more realistic. It does not replace the traditional process; it just sharpens the final product.”
Officer Mike Bonasera, Goodyear’s sketch artist, has been at the center of the department’s AI experiment. Before deploying the technology in active investigations, Bonasera and his colleagues tested AI on images of suspects who had already been arrested. The results were eye-opening. “Once we started doing all these tests, the chief saw it and was like, ‘Holy moly, this is amazing,’” Bonasera told the Phoenix New Times. The positive reaction wasn’t limited to Chief Brian Issitt; County Attorney Rachel Mitchell was also impressed by the accuracy and realism of the AI-enhanced images.
Despite the department’s enthusiasm, Bonasera is quick to point out that the artist’s role remains crucial. “You still need the artist, and the artist has to create this drawing because the drawing is what is going to make your AI rendition more accurate,” he said. The AI doesn’t conjure a face out of thin air—it builds on the artist’s interpretation of witness accounts, using advanced algorithms to add lifelike details and textures that a pencil can’t always capture.
One of the most striking effects of the new technology has been a surge in public engagement. Bonasera noted that the AI-adapted images seem to grab people’s attention in a way traditional sketches often do not. “It was overwhelming for our detectives. Usually, when you just put out a sketch, people tend to not really engage with it as much,” he said. “It’s making people look.” That increased scrutiny could be a double-edged sword, though. While it might generate more tips and leads, Bonasera acknowledged concerns that a photorealistic image might give the public—and even investigators—a false sense of certainty about the suspect’s identity.
That’s one reason the department is taking a cautious approach. Each AI-generated image comes with a disclaimer making it clear that the likeness is based solely on victim and witness statements, not on any actual photograph or video evidence. This warning aims to prevent the public from mistaking the image for a definitive mug shot, a risk that grows as the technology produces ever more convincing results.
The Goodyear Police Department’s use of AI in sketching is just the latest example of law enforcement agencies exploring generative AI tools. Across the country, police departments are grappling with how to integrate new technologies into their workflows, balancing the promise of increased efficiency and accuracy with concerns about privacy, ethics, and public trust. Some experts in policing have urged chiefs to lead the adoption of AI wisely, emphasizing the need for transparency, oversight, and ongoing training for officers and staff.
The Goodyear initiative comes at a time when public scrutiny of law enforcement practices is higher than ever. Advocates for civil liberties have warned that AI tools, if not carefully managed, could introduce new biases or reinforce existing ones. The risk is that a photorealistic image might be perceived as more reliable than it actually is, especially if the underlying witness statements are incomplete or inaccurate. Others argue that any tool that helps solve crimes and keep communities safe deserves a fair trial, provided it’s used responsibly and with clear safeguards.
Officer Bonasera’s experience so far reflects both the promise and the pitfalls of the new approach. On the one hand, the AI-enhanced images have sparked more interest and potentially brought in more leads. On the other, they require careful explanation and a commitment to transparency. The department’s decision to limit the use of AI to just two cases so far—one involving a student abduction attempt, the other a shooting—reflects a deliberate, measured rollout rather than a wholesale embrace of the technology.
For now, Goodyear’s experiment remains just that: a test of what’s possible when old-fashioned police work meets cutting-edge technology. The department’s leaders, including Chief Issitt and County Attorney Mitchell, appear optimistic but cautious, keenly aware of both the opportunities and the responsibilities that come with pioneering a new approach.
As the investigation into the November shooting continues, the AI-generated image of the suspect—a man in a hoodie and beanie, with a goatee—remains in circulation, accompanied by the department’s appeal for tips and its clear disclaimer. Whether the new tool will lead to a breakthrough in the case remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the future of police sketching in Goodyear, and perhaps beyond, is looking more digital by the day.
In a world where technology is reshaping even the most time-honored police practices, Goodyear’s cautious embrace of AI in suspect sketches offers a glimpse of what’s next—and a reminder that, sometimes, the best results come from blending human skill with machine precision.