HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Hutchinson Police department is working out the final details for body 
cameras they will use on the force, and a grant that will purchase in-car cameras.
Chief Dick Heitschmidt informed the City Council Tuesday that they have received a grant that will provide more than $17,000 to purchase three in-car video systems. That purchase will complete that part of the camera program. Then the attention turns to the body cams. The force has been testing a system from Watch Guard, which is the same system as the in-car cameras. By using the same camera brand, the force will be able to tie in both systems in the playback and memory downloading hardware at the station, thus saving money, according to Heitschmidt. The plan is to purchase 20 of the cameras with ten cameras on patrol, and ten at the station either recharging or being downloaded.
Heitschmidt says they are still working on protocol for the cameras, but one requirement is that the camera be turned on every time an officer steps out of the vehicle. Heitschmidt admitted that an officer might forget to turn on the camera at first until they get used to the new system.
Plans are to have the cameras in place by the end of the summer. The cameras cost about $800 a piece.