Wichita Police Department asks City Council for $650,000 for two robotic dogs

The Wichita Police Department will ask the City Council to approve $650,000 in funding for two robotic dogs: one for the SWAT team and another for the bomb squad.

The robotic dogs are different than the robots the department already uses.

“These robotic systems provide capabilities that address current operational gaps, including the ability to open and close doors, navigate stairs, and move over uneven terrain and obstacles commonly encountered in real-world environments,” Wichita Police capt. Aaron Moses said in an email. “These capabilities allow officers to manage high-risk incidents more safely and reduce risk to both the public and responding personnel.”

Moses did not say the price difference between the robotic dogs and other robots the department uses.

“Their advanced mobility and functionality allow officers to manage critical incidents from a safer distance, improving the ability to de-escalate situations and increasing the likelihood that incidents conclude safely and peacefully for everyone involved,” Moses said.

This story was originally published March 7, 2026 at 3:12 PM.