City Council Approves New Police Body-Worn Camera Contract

The City Council on Monday voted to enter into a new $4,506,601 contract to consolidate the Police Department’s body-worn camera and Taser contracts.

The contract provides new technology for the Department that will add an additional layer of accountability via new body-worn cameras that automatically record when police officers draw their weapons.

The current agreement for Tasers expires Aug. 14 and the current agreement for body-worn cameras would end with a consolidated product agreement as a new contract.

AXON Signal Side Arm uses a smart sensor attached to the officer’s holster to alert the primary users’ body-worn camera and other nearby cameras, within about 20 feet, to begin recording the moment the firearm is removed.

State law requires footage of critical incidents be made available to the public within 45 days.

The Department disciplined an officer after the fatal officer-involved shooting of Anthony McClain for not turning on his camera.

If the officers at the scene had the above technology and it performed as stated, it would have activated the cameras of both officers at the scene, allowing the public and Department more footage of the incident.

The Department will also purchase AXON Performance, software that provides an analytics dashboard of body-worn camera metrics relating to activation, categorization, and calls for service identifying rates that are updated in near real-time.

Additionally, the Department will purchase Axon Respond, which allows the use of GPS technology to locate an officer and allows supervisors to have real-time situational awareness in tactical situations.

Tasers and cameras will also be upgraded.

Currently, the Department deploys 306 of the 316 body-worn camera fleet.

The cameras are assigned to both sworn and professional staff Department members who routinely encounter the public while working in the field.