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REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />MAY 2, 2017 <br />TITLE: <br />AGREEMENT WITH TASER, INC. FOR <br />BODY -WORN CAMERA EQUIPMENT, <br />SUPPORT SERVICES, AND THE <br />PURCHASE OF TASER WEAPONS <br />FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT <br />{STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 1, 3A} <br />►_177CZ•MANk <br />❑ <br />As Recommended <br />❑ <br />As Amended <br />❑ <br />Ordinance on 1" Reading <br />❑ <br />Ordinance on 2ntl Reading <br />❑ <br />Implementing Resolution <br />❑ <br />Set Public Hearing For <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />CITY-MANAGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Authorize the City Manager and Clerk of the Council to execute a five -year agreement, for the <br />period of May 2, 2017 through May 1, 2022 with Taser, Inc., to provide body -worn camera <br />equipment and services for the Police Department, in the amount of $1,488,424.26 (including a <br />$50,000 contingency), subject to non - substantive changes approved by the City Manager and <br />City Attorney. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The Department of Justice (DOJ) recognizes body -worn cameras as a law enforcement strategy <br />aimed at improving public safety, reducing crime, and improving public trust between police and <br />the citizens they serve. Law enforcement agencies across the country and worldwide are using <br />body -worn cameras (BWC) as a promising tool to improve law enforcement interactions with the <br />public. BWCs provide a visual and audio record of interactions with the community. Preliminary <br />evidence indicates that the presence of body -worn cameras helps strengthen accountability and <br />transparency, and can assist in de- escalating conflicts, resulting in more constructive encounters <br />between the police and members of the community. <br />On October 15, 2015 the City Council approved $350,000 to fund a BWC program for the Police <br />Department. The Police Department established an exploratory BWC committee to research policy <br />issues and provide input to the Department's BWC program and program policy. The goal of the <br />exploratory committee was to incorporate a comprehensive study of both the potential benefits of a <br />body worn program as well as the full impact that such a program would have, specifically related to <br />issues and concerns about the implementation of a program from both a community perspective as <br />well as that of the officer wearing the camera. The committee included a wide variety of officers and <br />civilian employees from the Police Department with consideration given to length of tenure and job <br />assignment, and included board members and officer representatives from the Santa Ana Police <br />Officer Association. In an effort to gain a better understanding of the impact of policy and <br />25F -1 <br />