The Wichita Police Department is trying newer technology to lessen the chance of officers and citizens getting injured or killed during potentially dangerous situations. On Thursday, Lieutenant Aaron Moses said uniformed officers are already getting trained on some of the newer tools while other products are still in the works. Moses said all uniformed officers will be getting new body-worn cameras. The Axon Body 4 cameras featured an expanded field of view, improved video quality, and extended battery life. He said officers will also be able to stream video to supervisors if necessary. “As part of our new contract, every uniformed member, from the chief of police to the patrol officers and community service officers, will have a body-worn camera,” Moses said. The officer can choose between a chest-mounted or a head-mounted camera. The transition to the Axon Body 4 cameras will start in the spring. The WPD is testing Axon in-car video cameras. These are different from police dash cameras. “These cameras complement chest-mounted body cameras, providing additional footage with the rear seat of the vehicle,” Moses said. The WPD plans to equip 14 vehicles with the in-car cameras. Moses said the WPD is investing in technology that will automatically activate body-worn cameras when a police light bar is turned on or when a taser or a gun is drawn from a holster. Training started last week on the Axon Taser 10. Police say there are many benefits of the new taser versus the previous one officers used.
Source: KSN-TV
