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Phoenix council approves $22 million Axon Taser contract after heated public opposition
Summary
The Phoenix City Council voted to approve a multi‑year contract with Axon to replace Tasers with the Taser 10 model, a proposal opponents said would divert $22 million from housing and community services. Police and staff argued the device’s longer range and safety features support de‑escalation.
The Phoenix City Council approved a contract with Axon on Dec. 18 to equip officers with the newer Taser 10 system, authorizing an expenditure that opponents and public commenters described as roughly $22,000,000 over the life of the contract.
Opponents at the meeting said the timing and scale of the purchase were wrong. “The timing of this $22,000,000 Taser proposal is a slap in the face for every Phoenix resident,” public speaker Percy Christian said, citing a recent U.S. Department of Justice review and local incidents involving use of force. Numerous speakers urged the council to redirect money toward housing, mental‑health services and community programs.
Supporters, including Councilman Kevin Robinson, cited safety and equipment life‑cycle concerns. Robinson said the department’s current Tasers are antiquated and described the Taser 10 as a tool that “allows more time and space” for officers to de‑escalate. Police and staff described key features of the Taser 10, including an extended effective range (described at the meeting as about 45 feet), an audible deterrent observed during a local pilot and lower voltage than its predecessor.
Police commanders told the council the department ran a pilot in the Maryvale precinct that produced nine total deployments; staff said eight were effective and one deployment failed because it was beyond range. Commanders also said the department will pair the devices with training and software that tracks use. Council members pressed for transparency: staff said Axon’s “Trend” software will report deployment statistics and that data will be posted to the city’s transparency page with some lag because of records‑management limitations.
Budget officials told the council the first partial year of the contract could be absorbed in the police budget, but that years two through five would require additional funds and planning. Staff estimated the first half‑year cost at about $1.9 million and future annual costs at roughly $5 million to $5.5 million, and said any long‑term funding would be incorporated into the department’s budget planning process.
Several council members raised procedural and policy safeguards: staff said a revised use‑of‑force policy taking effect at the end of January will categorize taser deployments as a higher‑scrutiny use of force (level 2) and that department training (including ICAT de‑escalation principles) would be refreshed alongside the rollout.
Despite the objections from many public speakers and calls to prioritize social services, the council recorded the motion and voted to approve the Axon contract. The council directed staff to provide deployment statistics and related data updates as the contract is implemented.
The contract now proceeds to implementation steps in the police procurement and training schedules; staff said community briefings and additional transparency reporting will accompany the roll‑out.
