The Board of Estimate and Contracts on June 17 approved a one-year maintenance renewal for interview-room recording equipment and authorized the city’s police chief to attend the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Denver in October.

City officials said the maintenance agreement with Business Electronics will cover interview-room recording systems from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The board also approved the chief’s attendance at the Oct. 18–21 conference; officials said the trip will be paid from recovery funds that the administration described as eligible for training and equipment-related expenses.

During discussion, a staff speaker framed the Denver conference as an opportunity to update policies and procedures amid new laws and regulations and after the city’s interactions with federal authorities. The staff speaker said the conference addresses a range of issues including threats, protests and other topics relevant to modern policing.

Mayor Patterson Howard described a separate, later incident in which city-purchased equipment and partner ambulance services helped save a staff member’s life, attributing the outcome to training and equipment funded through prior board authorizations and grant-supported acquisitions.

“The Lucas devices that we have, which are are, do chest compressions, literally saved life today,” Mayor Patterson Howard said. She thanked city and partner emergency responders and asked the community to keep the staff member in prayers as the next 48 hours were said to be critical.

Roll call for both the maintenance renewal and the conference authorization showed unanimous approval: Comptroller Morton — aye; Council President Brown — aye; Mayor Patterson Howard — aye.