Wichita police test body-camera translation tool to bridge language gaps on emergency calls

WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) — The Wichita Police Department is testing a new real-time translation tool built directly into its Axon body cameras. Officers say the technology is helping them communicate in more than 55 languages during critical moments — and community advocates say it could even save lives.

With a simple voice command like, “Translate to Arabic,” or “Translate to Spanish,” the feature instantly switches languages. The system, called “Live Translation,” gives officers immediate access to conversations that previously required waiting for another officer to arrive. WPD says that delay often took 10 to 15 minutes.