Council approves amendment to Axon body‑worn camera contract for additional cameras and licenses

The Metropolitan Council voted to authorize amendment two to the Axon body‑worn camera contract for the Metro Transit Police Department, adding hardware and software to support a growing number of officers, council members heard May 27.

Council Member Reva Chamblas introduced business item 26‑91, saying the original five‑year contract (effective Aug. 1, 2025) and a prior amendment to add 15 cameras are now followed by a second amendment to add as many as 100 additional cameras, software licenses and docking stations. During the discussion Council Member Carter asked whether retention policy details had been provided; Metro Transit’s chief of police said those retention rates and the policy manual are posted on the public police website and staff would distribute links to council members.

Chamblas said the total cost of the contract with both amendments, as stated in council materials, will be shared with council members; in the meeting the staff read a final figure for the combined contract value of $2,944,268.92, and also acknowledged some numbers in the oral presentation were garbled and staff corrected them on the record. The council approved the amendment by voice vote.

Why it matters: Body‑worn cameras, licenses and docking stations affect police operations, evidence handling and records retention obligations; council members sought and received confirmation that retention policy information had been provided to council members and is publicly available.

What’s next: Staff will distribute the retention policy link to council members as requested, and the regional administrator is authorized to execute amendment two with Axon Enterprise under the council’s approval.