Fort Walton Beach Police Department — Memorandum on Axon Enterprise contract, with Axon quote Q-934870-011 (October 2026) — reading text

To: From: Date: Subject: City Council of Fort Walton Beach POLICE MEMORANDUM Jason Davis, City Manager Robert Bage, Police Chief October 27, 2026 Contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. 1. BACKGROUND: ial The Fort Walton Beach Police Department (FWBPD) has contracted with Axon Enterprise, Inc. (previously known as Taser) for body cameras, car cameras, license plate readers, recording of interview rooms, tasers, and video evidence storage. Axon has also acquired FUSUS, which the City previously contracted with for video integration, Studies suggest that the use of body cameras by police statistically reduces the number of complaints, use of force incidents, and frivolous lawsuits against cities. An additional benefit was a reduction in court overtime costs, as officers wearing body cameras were not subpoenaed as often as officers who didn’t wear cameras. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (ACP), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and other civic and community groups strongly support the use of body cameras and in-car camera systems. 2. DISCUSSION: 21 2:2. 23. After fiscal year 2027, the Axon contract goes to $235,163 in fiscal year 2028 and 2029. Staff worked with Axon and looked at ways to cut some of the cost from the program and were able to bring the contract price down to $212,623 in fiscal years 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2031. Axon Enterprise, Inc. is a leader in the industry, and their digital evidence is stored in Criminal Justice Standards approved cloud. The Axon body camera system has several advantages: 2.3.1. The Axon camera can be worn in multiple locations on the officer. 2.3.2. The camera from Axon is always recording and will save the thirty (30) seconds. of video that is captured prior to the officer formally activating the camera. 2.3.3. The camera has several automated functions that allow being recorded without officer input: 2.3.3.1. The activation of the taser. 2.3.3.2. The drawing of the firearm 2.3.3.3. The activation of overhead lights. 2.3.3.4. Opening the door while the car is running. Page 1 of 3 2.33.5. Ifone camera is activated, all cameras in the area will be activated 2.33.6. Live streaming of all body-worn cameras (BWCs) (only when recording) 2.3.3.7. GPS tracking (every 10 minutes when in buffering state. Every 10 seconds when recording) 2.3.3.8. Critical incident offload ~ Can offload the last recorded video directly to e.com through LTTE chips in the BWC 2.3.3.9, Live notifications to your phone/desktop for TASER activating BWCs, Firearm activating BWCs, etc., same as the in-car system, 23.4. FUSUS integration with BWC, Fleet, and TASER. Ability to live stream and track all devices through the FUSUS platform. 2.4. Based on the performance of Axon, the unique feature which aids in the activation of the body wor cameras, and the integration of the body worn cameras with the tasers, Axon is the recommended vendor. 2.5. The FWBPD has a need for fifty-two body-wor cameras which would provide sworn members below the rank of Major with a body-worn camera and taser. 2.5.1. ‘The proposal from Axon provides unlimited storage of video evidence through the use of Evidence.com which includes all related licenses required for daily operations and public records requests. 3. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: 3.1, If approved, the costs of all Axon products (Body-Worn Camera, In-car camera, License Plate Readers, Tasers, recording of interview rooms, FUSUS, and storage of digital evidence) will be divided over a five (5) year period 3.1.1, The total five (5) year cost and hardware payment for the body worn cameras and tasers is $1,015,494. 12, which is divided as follows 3.1.1.1. Year I - $165,000.00 (Paid FY 2026-27, budgeted) 3.1.1.2. Year 2 - $212,623.53 (Paid FY 2027-28) 3.1.13. Year 3 - $212,623.53 (Paid FY 2028-29) 3.1.14. Year 4 - $212,623.53 (Paid FY 2029-30) 3.1.1.5. Year 5 - $212,623.53 (Paid FY 2030-31) 3.1.2. This item is directly affected by Charter Amendment Ordinance 2145. JMMENDATION: 4.1, Staff respectfully recommends City Council authorize the contract amendment with ‘Axon Enterprise, Inc, for the purchase and maintenance of Body Worn Camera, In-car camera, License Plate Readers, Tasers, Recording of interview rooms, FUSUS, and storage of digital evidence for the Fort Walton Beach Police Department over a term of five (5) years for a total cost of $1,015,494.12 and authorization for the City Manager Page 2 of 3 to sign all related documents. ‘ACHMENTS: ‘* Fort Walton Beach Police Dept.-FL_Q-934870 (10) (PDF) ‘on Ros 10/16/2026 3.05 PM Robert Bage Completed 10/16/2026 3:51 PM Diana Reimer Skipped 10/16/2026 4:03 PM Jeff Hyde Completed 10/16/2026 4:30 PM City Attorney Completed 10/19/2026 10:35 AM Finance Completed 10/19/2026 12:22 PM City Manager Completed 10/19/2026 2:11 PM City Clerk Completed 10/22/2026 9:14 AM City Council Pending 10/27/2026 6:00 PM B ‘Axon Enterprise, Inc. eon Fert Walton BeachPotie Dept. — Teac Scere Eoreananeny pono fovintn Neer suemse nersa20n—Tdtewee saat pomwen ed or sooo 599000 ora sens seas oon) somes sous or.250 meas amas ‘ost siotanens s000 noma OS-TP Bd rncane Med ih TAPS) Amt mag oes na conte Fert Watton Beach Pee Dep FL a.93s4870.01 BO ba ABER erent a ec em om) Ann TASER O-fapocwmantc rem: 5] sh =a an mamat none uy core canin en TAS-Datatee rog eT eons canes fm Au TASER EeMereryHetayPeceT#) 6) 8h aera ens en i Poy Yeoman TASER mo tema nese Tit) aan ented Trai same canes Dll tan Manganese eae Yohit—_Annfie-Cne-E Horny cd 0 eaness ee a se 208 nee Stan 2 ly me ‘0