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Three Oaks committee weighs replacement of malfunctioning police body cameras, reviews roughly $50,000 Axon option
Summary
Chief Krause told the Public Service Committee that refurbished body cameras are failing and presented options including an Axon five-year package (about $50,000); members discussed costs, warranties and budget constraints and requested further pricing for a council motion next month.
Chief Krause told the Three Oaks Village Public Service Committee on May 2 that the department’s body-camera equipment is failing and that replacement options could require a significant multi-year expense. "The one I am wearing is malfunctioning, the battery keeps dying and it keeps going into Air Mode," he said, describing recent problems with refurbished units received from Motorola.
Krause outlined two vendor paths: an Axon subscription-style package that would include in-car cameras and body cameras with cloud storage access for prosecutors, and a Motorola option with different replacement timing. Krause said an Axon configuration — described as two in-car cameras and three body cameras — was estimated at roughly $50,000 spread over five years; Axon’s plan would include automatic Wi‑Fi downloads and periodic full replacements during the contract term. "The prosecutor’s office could access our files to obtain everything they need for court," Krause said of the Axon cloud system.
Village Manager Faulkner noted the Village recently lost a Township contract and that the general fund is under greater pressure as a result, meaning procurement decisions must balance public-safety needs and budget limits. Committee member Flint said the figure "does not seem like a ridiculous number," arguing the cameras can serve as a deterrent. Committee members asked whether repair and warranty coverage would be included; Krause said he expected repairs and warranty elements to be part of vendor proposals but that he would pursue written quotes.
No formal procurement action was taken at the committee meeting. Faulkner and Krause said they will gather detailed quotes and potential grant opportunities and return with information for the committee’s consideration and an anticipated motion to council next month.
