CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of Cooperative Procurement 21-281, Police Department Body Worn Cameras and In-Car Video System to Axon Enterprise, Inc for an amount not to exceed $2,257,634.97 and for a five-year term
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DEPARTMENT: Police Department
SUBMITTED BY: Jason Arres, Police Chief
BACKGROUND:
The procurement of body-worn cameras (BWC) and replacement in-car cameras for police vehicles was approved by the City Council for the 2022 Annual Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
Body-worn cameras are valuable tools for law enforcement because they document both video and audio of police incidents and encounters with the public. Use of these cameras in Naperville will provide a new type of evidence, enhance officer safety, and improve transparency with the community.
Another benefit of BWC is that they improve the quality of investigations and criminal prosecution through the audio and video evidence they record. Whether it is the crime occurring in front of the officers, statements provided, or other evidence gathered, the documentation provided by body-worn cameras can prove extremely valuable during investigations and court proceedings.
Transparency and accountability can also be enhanced through a BWC program. When used in combination with existing tools, like in-car cameras and formal incident reports, body-worn cameras will assist in documenting what occurs during police incidents, which enhances accountability for both the officer and the public. This technology will also improve officer safety by serving as a teaching tool in that the Training Unit and police supervisors will have the ability to review video with officers and coach them on areas of improvement for future incidents.
DISCUSSION:
Understanding all the benefits of body-worn cameras, the Naperville Police Department began the process of developing a BWC program even before it became a statutory mandate. Included with the Nap...
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