Board to consider Sheriff’s request to purchase several thousand body cams
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Board of Supervisors is slated tomorrow to consider Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s request to secure a long-term contract, valued at more than $30 million, for the purchase of more than 2,000 body-worn cameras for deputies.
The board will review the sheriff’s proposed purchasing agreement with Scottsdale, Arizona-based Axon Enterprise Inc. during its policy agenda Tuesday.
“Modern and reliable body-worn camera systems provide substantial benefits … by promoting transparency, strengthening public trust and supporting accountability in law enforcement operations,” according to a sheriff’s statement posted to the board’s agenda. “High-quality recordings provide objective documentation of critical incidents, assist in resolving investigations and support de escalation efforts. In addition, reliable body-worn camera footage also helps reduce the county’s exposure to liability.”
The sheriff’s department last entered into an agreement with the company in 2021, resulting in the acquisition of roughly 1,500 body cams, along with technical support and replacement parts, that continued until this summer.
The current proposal is for Axon to supply 2,086 current generation cameras — Body 4 Cams — with the most technologically advanced features, complete with support, storage and related services until Aug. 31, 2031.
The aggregate cost, with contingencies factored in, would be $32.69 million, according to sheriff’s officials. All of the funds would be drawn from sheriff’s appropriations, not General Fund accounts.
In 2021, following a bidding process that involved six potential suppliers, Axon’s products were deemed in documents to offer the highest “operational performance and overall value.”
The sheriff’s department wants to continue the relationship, without seeking competitive bids now, because the “Axon platform ensures seamless compatibility with the agency’s existing digital evidence management system, software integration and established workflows across patrol, investigationsand specialty units,” documents stated.
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