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Select Board approves $67,000 for police Axon contract, citing transparency and training benefits
Summary
The board unanimously approved up to $67,000 from police reserves to renew an Axon contract for tasers, body cameras, live-streaming, AI transcription, and VR training; Chief Moya said the platform includes mid-contract refreshes and planned in-dash cruiser cameras, with ongoing annual costs of about $61,097.
The Eliot Select Board on May 28 voted unanimously to allow the Police Department to use up to $67,000 from reserve funds to renew an Axon technology contract that the chief said will provide new tasers, body cameras and related technology.
Police Chief Moya told the board the contract renewal will add features such as live streaming and AI transcription to aid report writing, and will include VR training modules focused on de-escalation and mental health scenarios. He said equipment will be refreshed midway through the five-year contract, and in-dash cruiser cameras are planned by contract end to provide redundancy with body cameras. Chief Moya described tasers as a long-standing, less-lethal option used sparingly and said they are part of the department's broader safety tools.
The police upgrade was presented as an operational necessity for the department given its size and needs. The Chief reported the ongoing annual cost for the platform is approximately $61,097. Motion by Mr. Trott, second by Richard Donhauser, to approve the Police Department's request to use reserve funds not to exceed $67,000 passed by roll call vote (Orestis, Trott, Dow, Donhauser, Widi: yes).
