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Maplewood council approves 10‑year Axon RMS bundle, cites efficiency gains and data‑sharing safeguards
Summary
The council voted to join Saint Paul and Roseville on an Axon records‑management system in a 10‑year bundled contract (about $5.1 million), with staff saying the platform offers operational efficiencies, draft report automation and controlled data‑sharing; council members pressed staff on security and access.
Maplewood — The Maplewood City Council voted Feb. 23 to approve a 10‑year Axon records‑management system (RMS) bundle to replace the city’s current RMS, with staff arguing the move will improve efficiency, interoperability with partner agencies and long‑term cost predictability.
Lieutenant Steiner presented the proposal, describing an RMS as "the backbone of police operations" and saying the Axon platform offers integrated tools — automated draft reports, live translation in 57 languages and virtual‑reality training — that will reduce repetitive data entry and free officers for fieldwork. "This investment strengthens public safety and emergency response," Steiner said.
Financially, staff presented a 10‑year bundled price of just over $5.1 million and told council that locking 2025 pricing could yield negotiated savings of about $3.2 million over current costs; staff also said adding Axon RMS is roughly $945,000 higher over 10 years than continuing the current RMS vendor for RMS services alone, though staff argued the bundled approach still provides net long‑term savings.
Council members pressed staff on data sharing and cybersecurity. Council Member Villavicencio said she appreciated the work but worried about "putting all our eggs in one basket" and asked about data security. Lieutenant Steiner, Chief Bearden and the city’s IT/security director (Mr. Folds) said Maplewood would retain control of what it shares with other agencies and that federal agencies would not have direct access; Chief Bearden emphasized that the current system (Central Square) provided less granular control over data sharing and that Axon offers finer access controls.
Council moved (Council Member Kate, seconded by Council Member Lee) to approve the 10‑year Azon (Axon) RMS bundle; the mayor announced the motion carried. Staff estimated a buildout and implementation timeline of roughly 18–24 months with an early‑2028 go‑live target (about Jan. 1, 2028).
