The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has become the first police service in Canada to implement an artificial intelligence training platform designed to help 911 communicators develop their emergency response skills and improve recruitment assessments.
The platform, developed by GOVWORX, uses realistic, interactive emergency call simulations to assess decision-making, communication, and crisis management skills in a controlled training environment.
“Our police service continues to set the standard for innovation in public safety as the first police service in Canada to introduce an advanced AI training solution for 911 communicators,” says Superintendent Raf Skwarka, Commander of Support Services. “We are leveraging AI that is designed with safety, transparency and accountability at its core. The new tool represents another significant investment in modernizing public safety and ensuring our frontline communications professionals are equipped to provide exceptional service when every second counts.”
HRPS plans to use the platform during recruitment to evaluate candidates’ aptitude and skills for the demanding role of a 911 communicator. The service says the technology is expected to cut candidate evaluation time by 50 per cent while supporting more data-driven hiring decisions.
“With the high volume of applications we receive, it is essential that we identify the strongest candidates as efficiently and effectively as possible,” says Brian Dodd, Manager, Communications. “We will use this in our recruitment stage to reduce candidate evaluation time in half, improve successful 911 communicator sign off and make hiring more data driven. All while providing job-relevant assessments that measure the skills needed to succeed in this challenging frontline role.”
The platform will also support quality assurance by providing immediate performance scores and feedback, helping communicators identify strengths and areas for improvement as they develop their skills.
The introduction of GOVWORX follows the launch of SARA AI, or Smart Answering Routing Assistant, by HRPS one year ago. SARA was designed to handle certain types of non-emergency calls and has reduced 911 wait times by almost two seconds per call, according to the service.
So far in 2026, SARA has answered 95,367 calls and spent 1,195 hours speaking with residents. The system has also redirected more than 10,000 calls away from communications staff and sent more than 2,470 text messages directing people to alternative reporting options, including websites and the Collision Reporting Centre.
HRPS says its investments in SARA AI and GOVWORX reflect its ongoing commitment to using modern technology to support operational efficiency and public safety.
