Ulster County postpones $1.3M Axon contract while 90-day pilot and AI policy proceed

The Ulster County Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee voted on June 30 to postpone Resolution 186, which would have approved a $1,308,940 contract with Axon for the sheriff’s office, while a 90-day pilot of Axon systems begins and a draft AI policy is developed.

Sheriff Figueroa told the committee the pilot is scheduled to start the first week of July and that the office is seeking “to do it right,” saying the pilot will run for 90 days and that the sheriff’s office will report back to the committee when the trial is underway. “When we do this, we want to do it right,” he said.

Committee chair moved the postponement so the pilot and accompanying AI policy draft could be evaluated; committee members agreed to receive a 30-day update at their next meeting in August. The motion to postpone was made and seconded and adopted with all members present voting in favor.

Members discussed next steps for policy development. Sheriff Figueroa said a draft AI policy is being circulated for input from the legislature, the county executive’s office, the county attorney and the district attorney, and that the proposal is “very preliminary.” The sheriff also said the county is exploring a second vendor (Veritone) depending on results from the Axon pilot.

The committee’s postponement leaves the proposed contract in place for reconsideration after the pilot period and after the AI policy is further developed and reviewed by the parties involved.

What happens next: the committee expects a 30-day status report at its August meeting and a fuller evaluation at the conclusion of the 90-day pilot.