NORWICH – The Norwich Police Department is chasing a state-sponsored grant that will fund artificial intelligence body cameras for its patrol officers.

Police Chief Matthew Roberts says the department has applied for a $692,000 grant for Axon Body 4 cameras, which he says will enhance public safety while also helping the department run more efficiently.

Axon is a leading American public safety technology company specializing in hardware, software, and AI-powered public safety tools.

The grant, Roberts explained at a meeting of the Norwich Joint Committee earlier this month, will cover the expense of hardware and supporting software to run the AI-powered cameras, which will provide his department with benefits including visual recordings, language translation, and better field communications with off-site officers.

“There are a lot more Spanish-speaking people nowadays. There’s a button on the body cam. You click the body cam, it recognizes what language you’re speaking, then they can translate for you off the body cam,” he explained. “And if someone asks for a supervisor, they can log in and see everything in real time.”