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Oakdale Council approves Axon in‑car cameras and Draft 1 AI licenses; council cites transparency and efficiency
Summary
The council approved a $172,591.78 purchase from Axon Enterprises for in‑car cameras ($124,268.18) and 20 Draft 1 AI report‑writing licenses ($48,323.60), with staff citing improved evidence capture, reduced report times and overtime savings; vote passed 4–0.
Oakdale’s City Council approved a contract with Axon Enterprises for in‑car (dash/back‑seat) cameras and 20 Draft 1 AI‑powered report‑generation licenses, a combined purchase totaling $172,591.78.
A presenter told the council in‑car cameras provide views of the vehicle interior and forward view to improve transparency, officer safety and evidence collection. “They protect both officers and citizens while providing clear, unbiased documentation of interactions and incidences,” the presenter said. Staff said the dash/back‑seat footage can be critical in uses‑of‑force reviews and court cases and that the footage integrates with evidence.com for seamless case delivery to the district attorney’s office.
On Draft 1, staff described the product as “an AI powered narrative generation tool that uses body worn camera, audio, and transcripts to generate draft incident police reports” and said the department’s trial experience showed reductions in report‑writing time and overtime. The presenter said Axon allowed a 60‑day free trial and reported officers supported continuing use.
Costs presented to the council included $124,268.18 for in‑car cameras with five annual payments of $24,852 and $48,323.60 for 20 Draft 1 licenses over a two‑year contract; staff accounted for the total cost in the contractual services fund. Presenters emphasized the system’s configurability for camera activation (door, sirens, lights, speed) and buffering that captures 30 seconds to two minutes before activation.
Council members asked about rear‑view camera angles, insurance savings and how activation works; staff said the system is department‑dependent and can be configured per vehicle or assignment. A motion to approve the recommended resolution passed on roll call 4–0 (Potassie, Kettering, Murdoch, Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert voting yes).
Staff noted the purchase is intended to improve evidence capture, reduce litigation exposure and save officer time; any operational details (activation protocols, retention policy, evidence access) will be set by department policy.
