Planning Guide for Agency Buyers

Police Camera Systems for Small Departments

A practical path to body cameras, in-car video, and agency-controlled evidence storage without forcing a smaller department into an oversized enterprise contract.

Predictable Ownership

Purchase the equipment and avoid mandatory monthly cloud-storage contracts.

Agency Control

Keep evidence under agency-controlled access policies and retention rules.

Direct Support

Work with a U.S.-based team that understands patrol vehicles and law-enforcement workflows.

Illustrative Deployment Plans

These are planning examples, not fixed bundles. Final quantities and storage are based on fleet size, staffing, recording volume, retention policy, and installation needs.

5 officers / 3 vehicles

Body cameras5 assigned body cameras plus a practical spare-battery plan

In-car video3 in-car systems configured for the required camera views

Evidence storageEntry on-premises storage sized to retention policy and recording volume

10 officers / 6 vehicles

Body cameras10 assigned cameras, docking capacity, and spare batteries

In-car video6 in-car systems with automatic activation and wireless officer audio

Evidence storageOn-premises server sized from expected daily video and retention period

25 officers / 15 vehicles

Body camerasShift-ready camera and docking plan with spares for maintenance coverage

In-car video15 vehicle systems with standardized installation and upload workflow

Evidence storageExpandable evidence storage with role-based access and backup planning

50 officers / 30 vehicles

Body camerasDepartment-wide deployment plan, spares, training, and replacement-cycle assumptions

In-car videoFleet deployment staged to reduce vehicle downtime

Evidence storageScalable server configuration, workstation, backup, and documented evidence workflow

Information Needed for an Accurate Plan

✓Sworn-officer and reserve-officer count
✓Patrol vehicle count and vehicle models
✓Required camera views per vehicle
✓Average recording hours per officer per shift
✓Evidence retention policy
✓Existing network, server room, and backup capability
✓Installation and training preferences
✓Budget year, grant timing, and procurement requirements

What the Quote Should Show

A useful quote should separate equipment, storage, installation, training, warranty, optional accessories, and any future recurring expense.

Request an Agency Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes 10-8 Video suitable for a small police department?

The system is designed around direct support, straightforward deployment, agency-controlled evidence, and predictable ownership costs rather than mandatory per-officer cloud subscriptions.

Can a department deploy body cameras without buying in-car systems?

Yes. Body-camera, in-car video, and storage configurations can be sized around the agency's actual fleet, staffing, and evidence workflow.

How much evidence storage does a department need?

Capacity depends on camera count, resolution, daily recording time, retention policy, and backup requirements. 10-8 Video sizes storage after gathering those inputs instead of using a one-size-fits-all estimate.

Does an agency need full-time IT staff?

Not necessarily. The goal is a supportable on-premises workflow with direct U.S.-based assistance, documented installation, training, and a configuration matched to the agency's resources.

Body Cameras Without Monthly Fees View In-Car System Review Evidence Workflow