Alexandria board approves Watson/Axon system for police cameras; some members opposed

The board approved the purchase of Watson software and an Axon body-and in-car camera system for a five-user configuration, which staff said is the minimum needed to cover three full-time officers, part-time officers and an administrator.

"The minimum we have to have is five . . . even if we bumped it down to three, it's the same price," a staff member said, explaining license and pricing structure.

Supporters said the Axon system automates uploads to a cloud server so officers do not have to individually download footage, improving evidentiary integrity and officer safety. One member said lacking in-car cameras can jeopardize prosecutions when footage cannot be shown in court.

A motion to purchase the software and cameras was made and seconded. The chair called for a voice vote, then a roll call. The roll call recorded Bobby Simpson voting No; David Crips and Debbie Fischer were recorded as voting Yes, and the mayor stated he would vote yes. The meeting transcript shows multiple board members saying "I" during the voice vote and a roll call investment of named positions; the motion moved forward during the meeting.

Board members noted the town had approximately $73,000 remaining in the budget and estimated the package would cost in the "30-something thousand" dollar range; members asked that staff confirm exact vendor pricing and whether cheaper alternatives had been checked before final payment.

What happens next: Staff will finalize vendor pricing, confirm license counts and return any required contract details for purchase and payment out of the current or next year's budget.