Yakima Council approves Axon contract after widespread public criticism, changes wording to 'community request'

The Yakima City Council voted 6–1 Tuesday to adopt a resolution authorizing a master services and purchasing agreement with Axon Enterprise Inc. for tasers and a cloud-based media intake tool — amended on the floor to call the software “community request” rather than “community engagement.” The council’s vote followed more than 35 minutes of public comment opposing the purchase and a staff presentation by Yakima Police Department leaders.

The purchase approved for 2025 covers a first-phase package the department says will outfit frontline officers with up to 85 leased taser units and associated services; the Police Department estimated the 2025 expenditure at roughly $105,000, with possible follow‑on payments in later budget years if the department expands the rollout. Lieutenant Troy Adams, Yakima Police Department, said the department cannot obtain replacement parts for older Axon models and that the leased model ensures broken or obsolete units are replaced by the vendor.

Why it matters: speakers at the meeting called the contract an unnecessary use of scarce city resources and argued it would prioritize surveillance and weaponry over social services and senior- and youth-program funding that are under review in the city budget. Police leaders and several council members framed the purchase as a short-term capital…