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Killeen council hears pitch for $149,000 SWAT robot and five‑year Axon contract amendment; no formal action taken in work session
Summary
City staff presented purchase of an I Core Technology tactical SWAT robot ($149,144.28) and upgrades to Axon contracts (roughly $300,387.60 over five years) for police robotics and drones; chief and residents argued it will save lives while others said roads need funding. Council took no final vote in the work session.
Chief of Police Joseph Lopez outlined the Killeen Police Department's request to modernize its tactical robotics and indoor drone capabilities, saying the equipment would reduce risk to officers and civilians during high‑risk incidents.
"Remote entry using a SWAT robot allows officers to assess threats, clear hazards, and gather critical intelligence from inside a structure, while significantly reducing the risk of entry or loss of life to personnel," Chief Lopez said during the Jan. 20 work session. Staff asked council to authorize the city manager to execute a purchase agreement with I Core Technology for $149,144.28 and to amend existing Axon contracts with a five‑year increase totaling approximately $300,387.60.
Lopez described past operational needs the equipment would address and said the robot and upgraded drones would be available to nearby agencies under current mutual‑aid MOUs. "We are willing to help out anybody," Lopez said, noting the department has provided 44 real‑time assists to neighboring jurisdictions.
Councilmembers asked about cost‑recovery, mutual‑aid agreements and whether the robot could be used by the fire department. Lopez said use depends on the structure of the MOU and that some local MOUs currently provide mutual assistance at no cost.
Several residents addressed the meeting during citizen comments. One supporter said a tactical robot could have helped in past fatal incidents and called the purchase worthwhile even if it saved a single life. Opponents framed the equipment as a lower priority compared with unfinished street and infrastructure projects, and questioned whether deploying drones and robots raises community safety or civil‑liberties concerns.
No formal action was taken during the work session; staff presented the item for council consideration in the upcoming regular session, consistent with the chair's opening statement that no ordinances or contracts would be executed during the work session itself. Councilmembers continued the discussion and flagged questions about bidding, warranties and how MOUs should address cost recovery.
What happens next: The item was presented in the work session for review; staff recommended authorization for the city manager to execute the agreements in the regular session agenda. Any formal purchase or contract amendment will appear on the council's regular meeting agenda where a vote may be taken.
