Springfield council approves $7.2 million police camera, Taser technology package; bonds and PayGo authorized

The Springfield City Council on Monday approved a multi-part funding package and a five-year contract to replace the city's body-worn cameras, upgrade Tasers and buy integrated software and storage, a project police and councilors said is intended to modernize the department and help comply with the department’s Justice Department settlement agreement.

Superintendent Akers told the council the department worked with finance staff and subject-matter experts over eight months to assemble what he called a consolidated technology package. "We're trying to come together, and we're bringing everything together in one package," Superintendent Akers said, describing the work to end years of siloed systems and piecemeal purchases.

The package totals about $7.2 million over five years, as presented to the council. To fund the first phase the council authorized $2.5 million in bonds, approved a $1.5 million transfer from free cash for pay-as-you-go costs, and voted to approve the five-year contract for cameras, Tasers, software and services. Council votes on the bond authorization, free-cash transfer and contract were all approved during the meeting.

Why it matters

Police officials told the council the current contracts and equipment have become unreliable and that stitching separate vendors and software together would cost the city more over time. The police recommended a single…