The Guymon Police Department could soon be seeing things a little differently.

The GPD recently applied for a grant to receive special high tech cameras that would help officers to see in the dark — among other things. Police chief Eddie Adamson submitted a request for the cameras through the CDEP grant.

"They are wireless transmitting cameras," Adamson said. "They are really neat ... really expensive, too."

The warranty alone on the cameras is $8,000 a year. The department is looking at four cameras that cost $1,000 apiece, as well as a laptop computer.

Adamson said the cameras will come in handy the most during tactical situations.

"We have a barricaded suspect, we put cameras up, get in the van and watch what goes on (remotely), so nobody's 'right there.'" Adamson said. "I can tell you from doing it for many years, if you're in a position trying to watch the front of a house for an extended period of time, the body just needs a lot. If you're sitting in a command center and watching it on T.V., you can drink coffee and everything's good."

So the benefit is enhanced safety for the officers, which also translates to situations involving hazardous materials. The cameras can also see in the infrared spectrum — so if it's completely dark, the officers can use the cameras to see body heat.

"Any location that a hazmat situation would occur, we have people in (hazmat suits), fully encapsulated," Adamson said. "They take these little cameras on stands and go set them up when the make their first entry and start taking their readings. Once they come out, we can still have eyes right there to watch."

Other uses include setting the cameras inside city parks or other locations where vandalism might take place.
"It has multiple uses," Adamson said.

The chief said the grant is highly competitive, and the department won't know whether it was approved for several months.

"The likelihood of us getting it is not anywhere near 100 percent," Adamson said. "But if we didn't apply, it would be assured that we would not get them.

"We're going to go after everything we can. It's not something that will increase out day-to-day effectiveness. But in particular instances it could be crucial."