Body-worn cameras use language translation technology in Hudson

The Hudson Police Department has begun deploying body-worn cameras with built-in translation technology, which the department hopes will improve communication and services, and provide assistance during investigations and interviews.

The need arose from instances when officers would interact with people who don’t speak English as a first language, and there wasn’t an officer on duty who could translate, said Hudson Police Lt. Roger Downing.

“We’d have to call all the [nearby] towns and see if they have a bilingual officer working, and that delays a response on scene,” said Downing, who is the administrator for the department’s body-worn cameras program and serves as community services commander, overseeing day shift patrols, the Community Action Team, and traffic services.

Officers would sometimes use a translation app on their personal cell phones, but doing so meant that the phone and its contents could be subpoenaed during court proceedings, Downing said.

Events that police respond to can be chaotic, he said, and waiting for a translator or using a cell phone can take valuable time and encumber an officer’s ability to assist in a timely manner.

The solution was already at the department’s disposal. At the end of 2025, the Police Department upgraded its body-worn cameras from the Axon 3 to the Axon 4, which comes with translation technology embedded into the camera.

“It’s just a matter of activating the licenses and turning [the camera] on,” Downing said. “We got a 30-day trial, and it worked out. … It’s not perfect, but it makes it so that you can communicate on scene, whether it’s a vehicle stop or you’re at a house.”

The cameras provide real-time translation in more than 50 languages. Officers can either manually select a language or let the device detect which language is being spoken. The device also has a manual playback feature to ensure that all parties are able to understand what is being said.

All translated speech is captured in the video, and the device provides a transcript for review and to ensure translation accuracy.

Feedback from residents, city staff and officers has been largely positive, Downing said, and people who speak languages other than English have said that the translations are accurate.

“If nobody was using it, and the feeling was that … it’s not a priority, then I don’t think we would have gone with it,” said Downing, “But when so many officers are coming back, saying, ‘I use this almost on a daily basis,’ it’s just a good tool to have.

“There are so many new families coming into cities and towns,” he added, “and to have that [translation] on the spot, in the moment, means that we can have a real conversation with someone. It’s a huge asset.”