Public commenter raises concerns about Axon devices and AI reporting; committee asks for follow-up

Melissa Dunn, a Lewiston resident, used the public-comment period to raise concerns about Lewiston Police Department procurement of Axon equipment, including combined body-worn cameras and conducted-energy-device integration and software the speaker identified as using AI-based reporting.

Dunn said she had learned the district and municipal SROs were slated to receive Axon equipment and described prior controversy at the company, including the resignation of an AI ethics board in 2022 and debate about deploying devices on drones. She said the districtwas told the purchase would cost about $373,000 over four years and expressed concern that AI-driven reporting could introduce bias or fail to stop falsified reports. She also said people with disabilities are at higher risk of injury from taser use and urged committee attention and public follow-up.

Member Eames asked the committee to place an item on a future agenda to get more information. A Lewiston Public Schools staff member responded during the future-agenda discussion that SROs currently carry a taser and that officers receive training as SROs and as sworn officers; the staff member said they would look into whether the body-camera and AI elements will be used by school SROs and whether the police department's purchases require further committee review.

No formal committee action was taken during the public-comment item; members requested staff follow-up and a future agenda entry to clarify equipment purchases and any school-district role.

Direct quotes from the public-comment period were attributed to Melissa Dunn as recorded in the public transcript.