Approve Police Axon Squad Car Video System Upgrade

In 2006, the Police Department implemented its first squad car camera recording system from Panasonic. That recording unit had a single camera that recorded out of the front windshield. It also had a wireless body microphone that the officer wore that recorded audio if the officer was near and in range of the squad car.

In 2014, the Police Department upgraded that original system to the Panasonic Arbitrator system, which is still used today. This system has five cameras installed in the squad car, recording out of the front windshield, rear window, driver side window, passenger side window, and one camera recording the back seat prisoner area. It also has a wireless body microphone which the officer wears on their person that records audio if the officer is near and in range of the squad car. 

To stay progressive with technology, due to the changing climate of law enforcement/citizen interactions, and with the growth in the City of Ramsey having several large apartment complexes where the current microphone packs don't reach, staff from the police department began researching a variety of Body Worn Camera vendors. In September of 2022, City Council approved the purchase of Body Worn Cameras from Axon.

Staff believes switching away from Panasonic and to the Axon package will work best for the current needs of our department, consolidating all digital evidence storage to one platform in one location, which will aid in the time-consuming area of evidence management and redaction. The body worn camera (BWC) will now act as the microphone independently of the squad video camera system, so the range or distance an officer is from their squad car is no longer a concern of not having audio of an incident. It will also require less server storage by transitioning to unlimited cloud-based storage for these videos.

Axon's Fleet 3 package, with a quote attached to this case, will outfit our current fleet of squad cars with their in-car video system, working in conjunction with the new Body Worn Cameras. Axon's Fleet 3 package is ten to twelve months out on shipping. Staff is requesting the approval of this package, so the order can be placed in December 2022 with a shipping and invoice date of January 2024.

Alternative: Continue using two systems. The Panasonic System in the squad cars and the new Axon Body Worn Cameras on the Officers person.

This was originally included in the 2023 Budget and Levy.  Recognizing the timeframe to receive the cameras would be 2024, the amount was removed from the 2023 Budget and Levy.  Council appeared to be supportive during budget discussions for the purchase, and in approving the purchase now this is committing to a 2024 Property tax levy in the amount of $215,816.40.

Staff recommends approving the purchasing of the updated Axon Fleet 3 squad car camera systems, with approval to order in December of 2022 with a shipping and invoice date of January 2024.

Motion to approve purchasing of the updated Axon Fleet 3 squad car camera systems, with approval to order in December of 2022 with a shipping and invoice date of January 2024, under the attached 11/17/2022 quote of $215,816.40 with funding from the future 2024 Property tax levy.