Tumwater committee sends police body-worn camera policy to council work session
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Summary
Acting Deputy Chief Ken Driver briefed the committee on the department's body-worn camera rollout and recommended scheduling Policy 539 for the March 24 council work session; the committee voted to refer it for further discussion and public comment.
Acting Deputy Chief Ken Driver told the Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee that the department's body-worn camera deployment began in September 2025 and that final costs, vendor selection and an agreement with the police guild are already complete. "We decided to go with Axon because that met all the department needs we'd have and meet all the community needs," Driver said.
Driver said equipment was ordered in December 2025, arrived in January, and staff are scheduling training and on-site installation. He said a draft Policy 539 was negotiated with the Tumwater Police Guild and that the final steps include offering the council and the public an opportunity to provide comment.
The Mayor pro tem welcomed the change, saying Tumwater "is the only local police department in Thurston County, I believe, that does not have body-worn cameras," and called the technology an important transparency and safety measure.
A council member said they had lingering concerns but preferred to address them at a council work session. The committee voted to place Policy 539 on the city council work session agenda for March 24, 2026, by motion; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.
The referral means the council will consider the policy and public comment at its March 24 work session; staff indicated they will bring supporting materials and a final draft for that discussion.