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Council committee authorizes 10‑year bundled contract with Axon for body, in‑car cameras and evidence storage
Summary
Elyria approved a 10‑year replacement contract with Axon covering body cameras, in‑car systems, Taser programs, cloud evidence storage, license‑plate readers and real‑time video services; administration said long contract will lock pricing and save about $2.2 million versus piecemeal renewals.
Elyria’s finance committee advanced a 10‑year replacement contract with Axon Enterprises to consolidate the police department’s body‑worn cameras, in‑car cameras, Tasers, cloud evidence storage and related software and services.
Sergeant (Sgt.) Buckway described the package as a bundled deal that locks pricing and provides scheduled hardware replacement every five years, unlimited third‑party CJIS‑compliant digital evidence storage, live‑streaming capabilities for up to 20 officers, integrated license‑plate reader feeds and access to Fusus real‑time crime‑center services (150 video feeds included). Buckway said the bundled 10‑year price is $5,395,272; he said the deal saves roughly $2,196,911.80 compared with renewing components individually and that an invoice due this year equals about $311,630.78.
Council members asked for pricing detail and for clarity on funding. The Safety Service Director confirmed the contract will supplant several existing shorter contracts and said funding can draw from multiple sources including the general fund, the police levy fund and the 2016 half‑percent income tax fund. Law Director Deery flagged a pending state law change that may allow local governments to set fees for public‑records requests of certain evidence; he recommended council consider that policy before finalizing any fee structure for records access.
The committee approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter the Axon contract; an emergency clause was requested and the motion carried by voice vote.
Why it matters: The agreement centralizes digital evidence management, aims to reduce local server/storage needs and promises system continuity and scheduled hardware replacement; it carries a multi‑million dollar cost and will affect police evidence workflow and public‑records handling.
Vote: Ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter the Axon contract approved by committee voice vote.
