West Richland council authorizes Axon contract for body cameras, tasers, AI and VR training

The West Richland City Council voted to authorize the mayor to sign a master services and purchase agreement with Axon Enterprises for upgraded body-worn and in-vehicle cameras, Taser 10 devices, AI-assisted report-drafting tools and virtual-reality (VR) training.

Council action came after Commander Kelly of the West Richland Police Department described a multi-part package that included 18 Taser 10 devices, upgraded vehicle cameras with automated license-plate readers (ALPR), expanded evidence and redaction software, an AI-assisted report-writing product called Draft 1, and VR training equipment and scenarios. Alex Aguilar, an Axon representative attending virtually, spoke in support of the package.

The council’s approval follows roughly three months of departmental work on pricing and product trials, Commander Kelly said. Kelly told the council Axon offered a year-end discount that reduced up-front costs and added seven complimentary evidence-management licenses; the department negotiated other one-time reductions as part of the package. Kelly said the city’s current annual Axon-related contract runs about $60,000 and that the proposed package would cost more but include additional services and devices that the department does not now have.

Commander Kelly said the Taser…