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The Maui Police Department has begun a monthlong field test on the use of body cameras.
Officers in the field test, which began Aug. 18, are using the body-worn Axon camera made by TASER.
In a news release, Maui police said other field tests are planned using cameras from two other manufacturers.
The Maui Police Department has received grants to purchase a body-worn camera system, saying the grant awards total less than $200,000.
According to TASER’s website, the Axon camera system has a battery that lasts for 12 hours, and uses Wi-Fi to stream encrypted video and Bluetooth to send images to a data collection system.
Last year the Kauai Police Department was the first in the state to outfit its officers with body cameras.
In July, Honolulu Police Department Maj. Andrew Lum told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser the department has been testing different vantage points by placing cameras on officers at eye, shoulder and chest levels. The testing also includes putting the camera-equipped officers into different scenarios and analyzing the recordings to detect obstructions and measure visibility.
Lum said the department’s pilot project, which will allow officers to wear the devices while on their patrols, could begin in November. It’s expected to last three to six months.