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Council approves six Tasers for Richmond Police Department under five-year subscription
Summary
Council authorized a five-year subscription with Axon to acquire six Taser systems for the Richmond Police Department, at a total contract value of $13,275 (annual cost reported). The purchase was described as budgeted and required because Axon is the vendor for the integrated subscription model.
The Richmond City Council voted to authorize the purchase of six Taser systems for the Richmond Police Department through a five-year subscription contract with Axon.
City staff said both the FY2024–25 and FY2025–26 police department budgets included funds for three Tasers each year and that staff recommended purchasing all six in the current year. The Axon purchasing model now uses a five-year subscription that bundles devices, cartridges and training, meaning departments no longer buy single Tasers piecemeal.
City Manager John said the total contract is $13,275 over 60 months with an annualized price of $2,006.55. Police leadership confirmed the subscription includes cartridges and training certificates under the vendor model. The chief of police attended the meeting and said the model no longer allows piecemeal purchases and that the subscription was the required procurement route.
Council moved to waive competitive procurement on the basis that Axon is a sole source provider for the subscription model; the motion passed on a roll-call vote. Council members recorded yes votes for Warren, Ricks, Yelenich, Ravitch, Lafore and Allen.
Why it matters: The purchase replaces or supplements force options available to officers and was included in the department’s budget. Council noted the change in vendor purchasing model and approved the sole-source procurement accordingly.
