Staff recommends that the City Council approve the cooperative purchasing agreement with Axon Enterprise providing for efficient upgraded solutions and enhanced technologies for Police Department Body Worn Cameras, In-Car Camera Systems, and software to include a Digital Evidence Management System for a period of five (5) years in the amount of $3,053,694.45.

In late 2024, the Center for Public Safety Management (CPSM) submitted a limited-scope follow-up report of a comprehensive assessment, initially conducted in 2020, of Billings Police Operations. Between both reports, the CPSM provided recommendations in the following areas: reduction of high "out-of-service" times for officers, development of a discovery unit, development of a crime scene investigation unit, and improvements in the digital evidence management process.

The current tasers issued to officers will become unsupported on December 31^st, 2025. ERP funds for taser replacements are expected to mature in FY27. FY26 budget authority was obtained to purchase internal affairs software. The current body-worn cameras (BWCs) issued to officers are at the end of life with matured ERP funds as of FY26. The current in-car video systems are nearing the end of life with ERP funds expected to mature in FY28. The current digital evidence management system, which is spread between multiple vendors, remains inoperable despite significant past investments. The current digital evidence management process is manpower intensive and inefficient, resulting in increased processing steps and officer out-of-service time. Significant investments over the next five (5) years will be required to improve, replace and upgrade current systems and processes.

The proposed cooperative purchasing agreement with Axon Enterprise bundles hardware and software within one ecosystem. This includes new Taser 10 less lethal devices, taser support and virtual training systems, new body-worn cameras every 30 months, in-car video fleet systems for five years to include installation, signal activations, internal affairs software, digital evidence management system, unlimited digital evidence storage from Axon devices, the purchase of additional storage for 3^rd party digital evidence, remote uploading of digital media, auto-tagging, community request, and 3^rd party video support. The bundled package is designed to address workflow and efficiency recommendations from the CPSM as well as meet the needs of an aging technology system currently requiring additional investment to maintain and upgrade.
 

IT - Supports Contract.
City Attorney's Office - Pre-reviewed and supports transition to contract.
County Attorney's Office - Supports departments transition to contract.

City Council may:

• APPROVE the cooperative purchasing agreement with Axon Enterprise in the amount of $3,053,694.95 or;
• NOT APPROVE the cooperative purchasing agreement with Axon Enterprise in the amount of $3,053,694.94 and provide further direction to staff. If the cooperative purchasing agreement is not approved, replacement of aging technologies that are at the end of life and needed software upgrades to fix digital evidence management issues cannot be completed.

The proposed cooperative agreement is a five (5) year contract for the amount of $3,053,694.45. Currently, matured ERP funds are available in excess of $900,000.00, securing year one of the contract. Year two funding is secured by the remainder of ERP funds to include FY27 ERP contributions for these items. Out years of the contract 3, 4, and 5, will be paid for in portion by current annual funds attributed to these programs and the remaining balance with future fiscal planning and budgeting. As part of this transition, the department is expecting a $93,000.00 credit from Verizon Wireless as an incentive from the purchase of specific Axon network equipment, further reducing associated costs. Lastly, the department has a grant application submitted in the amount of $812,817.00 from the Bureau of Justice for body-worn camera upgrade, expansion and enhancement of digital evidence management. If approved, the grant award will reduce the cost to the department and will be spread over three (3) years.
 

The Billings Police Department requests approval of a five-year cooperative purchasing agreement with Axon Enterprise to replace and modernize tasers, body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, internal affairs software, and digital evidence management. Current systems are at or near end-of-life, lack integration, require extensive manual processing, and no longer meet operational or legal demands.

CPSM reviews identified significant inefficiencies in digital evidence handling, discovery, and officer out-of-service time. Existing digital evidence systems remain inoperable, and all current tasers become unsupported after December 31, 2025. Upgrading now prevents service gaps and reduces operational risk.

The Axon bundle consolidates equipment and software into a single, automated platform that streamlines workflows, enhances accountability, and aligns with CPSM recommendations. The five-year cost is $3.05 million. More than $900,000 in ERP funds cover year one, with year two funded through remaining ERP balances and scheduled contributions. Future-year costs will be addressed through planned budgeting and potential grant offsets, including an $812,817 federal grant application now pending.

This agreement ensures continuity of critical public safety technology, improves efficiency, and replaces aging systems before failure or loss of support.