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File Number: 22-601 <br />portion of the process most susceptible to implicit bias was the graded interviews conducted by <br />external, unaffiliated raters. Recognizing that human beings, with the best training and intentions, <br />are vulnerable to unconscious bias, staff searched for a means to eliminate that possibility. <br />In the quest for a solution, staff discovered Q-a synthetic AI voice without bias created by Virtue <br />and Copenhagen Pride. Virtue and Copenhagen Pride launched Q on March 11, 2019, to <br />demonstrate what a future voice of inclusiveness sounds like for everyone. Staff engaged Q and <br />learned there is no product like it, and the non-binary voice helps reduce gender and ethnic bias <br />interpretations. Q will help staff facilitate a promotional process that removes rater bias, <br />improving the objectivity and legitimacy of the process. <br />Virtue will change applicants’ audio responses to situational exercises from their original voice to <br />Q1, Q2, Q3, etc., and all voices will sound the same. The raters will listen to the Q audio <br />responses and compare them to a structured model applicant response matrix. It is staff’s <br />understanding that this bias-mitigating approach has never been used before. The San Leandro <br />Police Department is a pioneer in policing and hopes to continue that tradition with this initiative <br />and contract. <br />Analysis <br />Q is a one-of-a-kind application that can be used to convert applicants’ recorded responses to <br />sergeant promotional exercise questions to non-binary, indistinguishable audible responses. This <br />will enable staff to remove potential rater bias allowing raters to focus on the substance of <br />applicants’ responses. <br />Financial Impacts <br />This Council action would reallocate $135,125. Since the reallocated funds would be exclusively <br />derived from salary savings from the previously adopted FY 2022-2023 budget, no additional <br />appropriations are required. (Account number 010-21-002-5120). <br />ATTACHMENTS <br />Att A: Resolution to Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement With Vice <br />Att B: Presentation <br />PREPARED BY: Abdul D. Pridgen, Chief of Police, San Leandro Police Department <br />Page 2 City of San Leandro Printed on 11/17/2022